Wine has been called the nectar of the gods since the time of Homer. It isn’t necessary to believe in a panoply of divine beings in order to enjoy a terrific, full-bodied red or a crisp white. It is no wonder that a modern trend in interior design is dedicating a space for your personal wine collection. No matter the size of your home or apartment, you probably have an area that can be easily converted into your personal storage space for your wine. Here’s how you can add a wine cellar to your home.
Pick the location
Your primary consideration will be the location where you will store your wine collection. It needs to be an area that does not have direct sunlight, making basements perfect choices. You’ll also need to learn the basics of building your cellar. If it is built well, it will perform its tasks with consistency and efficiency.
1. It is important to maintain a temperature of around 55 degrees Fahrenheit for proper wine storage. It is okay to be within three or four degrees, but any warmer than that will age your wine more quickly. If you keep the temperature too cold, your wine will age more slowly.
2. The humidity of your cellar must be controlled and ideally kept at around 57 percent. High humidity can cause your corks to become moldy, ruining your wine. If there is too little humidity, the corks can dry out, spoiling your wine.
3. Your space must be able to incorporate the size of the cellar your collection needs. Wine cellars take up a lot less room than most people think, with collections having up to 250 bottles needing as little as 30 square feet. When planning, make certain that you also have an adjacent room that’s slightly bigger than the space for your cellar.
Framing, drywall and insulation
You can use 2-by-4 or 2-by-6 boards for the framing. Thicker walls let you use more insulation, giving you a better ability to control the environment. Spray-foam insulation is the preferred insulation type because it works as a moisture barrier as well as an insulator.
If you want to use a different type of insulation, you’ll have to apply a 6-millimeter poly moisture barrier on the exterior of all of your framed walls. If the space doesn’t allow you to do this, then you’ll want to wrap it around all of the studs. Your insulation should be on the inside of your poly barrier. After that, board up the interior of the cellar using green board to prevent mildew and mold.
Install a wine cooling unit
You want to make certain the cooling unit you choose is one made specifically for wine. Unlike regular cooling units, wine cooling units control humidity as well as temperature. They remove the excess moisture that your cellar needs to have removed. There are a variety of different products from which you can choose, so you’ll want to research them.
If you choose one that can be installed through your framing, the unit will cool the temperature in the cellar while controlling its environment. The heat will be exhausted outside of the cellar into the adjacent room next to the cellar.
Choose your lighting
You can make your cellar pretty as well as functional with your lighting. You don’t want to choose regular halogen or incandescent bulbs, however, because they produce too much heat. LED lights are the best choice because they do not produce much heat at all. They come in track lights, strip lights and puck lights, allowing you to light your cellar in a manner that best displays your collection.
Create a seal in the doorway
You’ll need to create a seal in your cellar’s doorway. Using 10-millimeter frameless glass doors will give the best ability to view into the cellar from the outside. Minimally, you’ll need to at least choose an insulated, exterior-grade door. If you do use glass, make certain it is dual-paned.
Add humidity
You can add humidity to your cellar with a basic humidifier, but if you want something showier, you can do that in a variety of ways. An indoor waterfall or fountain can add the moisture your cellar needs while also being a showpiece.
Decide how your wine will be displayed
How you display and store your wine is the central feature of your cellar. You can use several different methods to add interest to the area. The best cellars display the finest wines in the collection while also having sufficient room for everyday drinking choices.
When you are ready to add a wine cellar, you might want to get help from professional designers. Call us today, and we can help you with all aspects of your project.
