How to Build Your Own Wine Cellar

So many people around the world are passionate about wine. Some people are happy to by just a cheap bottle of plonk whilst others are more connoisseurs and are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a single bottle of wine. Then there are others who buy wine because they see it as an investment just like stocks and shares. It's surprising just how much wine can increase in value over a couple of decades.

Whatever types of wine buyer or drinker you are, building your own wine cellar can be an excellent idea. Wines don't keep forever but if you want to lay a bottle down for a few years, you want to make sure you keep it in the best conditions. Wines hate heat, humidity and sunlight so building a wine cellar will allow you to keep wines in conditions that you have control over.

What Are Wine Cellars?

A wine cellar is a room which create the perfect environment for wines. Wines really dislike heat, light and humidity so it's important to store wine properly. You will find that some that are underground are naturally the correct temperature and humidity. However many people don't have this luxury so need to install various items of equipment so that they can control all the elements. Most restaurants will have a cellar but some people are building their own at home too.

If you are building your own wine cellar there are some basic steps you need to be aware of.

Location of Wine Cellar: Before you can begin you need to work out if you have enough room for one. You don't need the biggest of spaces a 3 x 3 x 3 meters will do the job. The most ideal location is in your basement however for larger homes you can build one wherever you want pretty much.

Insulation: This is an area which you mustn't neglect because insulation will help keep your cellar cool and keep the heat out; much like an insulated cool bag you would take on a picnic. The amount of insulation you need is R-11 and for the outside walls you need R-19. If your cellar is going to be built in the basement you need to see about a vapour barrier and concrete sealant for the flooring. For the vapor barrier you would use a polyethylene plastic sheet which is 6mm thick.

Cooling System: The type of cooling system you will probably choose will be either standard or split. Ultimately it comes down to personal choice however there are differences you should understand. Standard systems are cheaper and easier to install but the downside is their lifespan; it's only about 5 or 6 years. The split system is the opposite; it costs more and needs to be fitted by a professional however it lasts a lot longer.

Doors: Choosing a door might not seem that important for a wine cellar but it is. The door you select mustn't have a window and it must be well insulated and solid. Do not select a wooden door because the insulation is not enough.

Lighting: You will want to have lighting in your cellar for when you want to place bottles on a rack or take one away. You might even want to impress your friends with your collection and vast knowledge of wines. However it's important to remember that lights can damage the wine so you'll probably want to have dimmer switches installed so that you have more control over the intensity.

Flooring: The types of flooring you choose affect the conditions of your cellar. Hard surfaces like stone, slate and tile are much better and never install carpets.

Wine Cellar Kits: If you are really not sure about what you should be buying when building your own wine cellar, buying a kit is an ideal solution. The prices will obviously vary depending on what quality and specifications you have set. Remember that you usually get what you pay for so don't just make your decision based on price.

So whether you have a relatively small collection of wine bottles or enough to supply a small hotel, building your own wine cellar can make a great addition to your home.

April has written a number of articles relating to food and wine at www.foodandwineworld.com including: Wine Tasting in Portugal and How to Build Your Own Wine Cellar.

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