A Wine Cellar - What Do You Need To Know?
July 2nd, 2009Installing your own wine cellar can help keep your prized collection of wine protected. For wine to age properly and to develop the intricate layers of taste as intended, wine should be kept in a cellar away from the low humidity, temperature changes and less than desirable storage the bulk of the average home experiences.
Small-scale or elaborate, a wine cellar should have the following elements:
• proper insulation
• storage to protect and display the bottles
• good temperature controls
• proper lighting levels
Your wine cellar can be an example of your taste - perhaps you have a preference for practicality, and as much storage in a small space as possible. Alternately, you may want a show piece where you can entertain friends and sample wines in luxurious surroundings. Keep your needs in mind when designing your cellar.
Also note that a wine cellar doesn’t have to be reserved for a country estate, as people from all walks of life who enjoy a fine bottle of wine build or have wine cellars in their homes.
You will want to come to the design process with an idea of how you think of your wine collection. Some bottles resemble art pieces, so you may want to display them prominently. Sometimes you may desire to showcase a rare vintage, or instead decorate your space with wine-related arts or crafts that bring ambience to the area.
A range of storage designs sympathetically combined will give your wine cellar the most versatility. You can purchase modular storage systems that assemble in a customized fashion, or you can have a carpenter create the storage (this can be the more expensive option).
Basic storage racks (in wood or metal) will ensure that the wine remains efficiently ventilated and separated. You may also want an area set aside for wine accessories, like glasses, corkscrews, bottle openers and wine chillers or buckets. Your wine cellar can also have purely decorative elements in the form of handcrafted doors or mood lighting.
Red wines benefit most from being stored in a cellar, particularly varieties that acquire flavoring from long-term storage. A lot of people imagine that cellars need to be located in the basement or else beneath the house, when in fact they can actually be set up in any area of the house as long as the temperature and humidity levels can be sufficiently controlled. Make your wine cellar a personal expression of your passion for wine.
If you want to learn more about wine cellars, head over to http://www.infoaboutwine.com











