How To Start A Wine Cellar

Starting a wine cellar provides many pleasures. One of these is selecting a bottle from the cellar, perhaps one that you've been cellaring and maturing for several years, drawing the cork and enjoying it over a meal with friends. You can marvel at the changes brought about by aging the wine and you can brag about the price you originally paid and congratulate yourself on picking up such a bargain!

However, wine is constantly evolving and developing and how it is stored will directly affect how quickly and how well it ages!

To successfully store your precious wine collection pay attention to the following tips and remember storing wine is very simple ...

It requires a constant humidity and temperature, darkness and stillness and a clean, well-ventilated environment.

Insulation

The first essential is to create a storage environment that provides the basics of stable temperature, no light and no vibration.

In general terms 4" (100mm) of polystyrene is the equivalent to 3 ft (1 meter) of ground. So if you're trying to decide between an above ground construction and an underground cavern, you must be prepared to dig deep for the latter!

Your cupboard, indoor space, basement or your outdoor construction must be well shaded, well insulated and with the minimum of air movement in and out.

Click Here For The Best eBook On How To Start A Wine Cellar

Humidity

A dry atmosphere is an enemy of the natural cork seal. A natural cork is compressed and forced into the bottle as a 100% natural seal.

Low humidity combined with a defective cork results in the wine moving out of the bottle (increasing ullage) and air naturally moving into the bottle.

Moderate humidity is important to keep the cork in good resilient condition and prevent it shrinking. Screw capped bottles do not require humidity.

Excessive humidity will not harm the wine but can cause the labels to go moldy. The ideal humidity for your cellar is 70%, however anywhere between 50–80% is acceptable.

Temperature

The aim is to provide a constant temperature for your stored wines of between 50°F and 59°F (10°C – 15°C.

Seasonal temperature changes should not harm your wine, although fluctuations greater than one degree a week should be avoided. Wines subjected to temperatures over 77°F (25°C) are in grave danger of rapid deterioration.

Wines stored in less than ideal conditions will age at speeds quite different to those envisaged by winemakers when they offer suggested storage times. A hygro thermometer will provide you with accurate information as to both the temperature and humidity ranges within your cellar.

A well-constructed above ground cellar or a well dug underground cellar will require the minimum of additional temperature control although your climate or the position of your cellar may necessitate the use of a cooling device that will provide complete temperature stability.

Regard assembled wine as your best cooling block. A high density of wine bottles will reduce wine temperature fluctuations.

Consider keeping your long-term wines in a professional storage facility if your cellar cannot conform to the optimum temperature ranges.

Darkness

Exposure to light will prematurely age a bottle of wine. Clear bottles are most susceptible to this problem, but ultraviolet light will penetrate even dark colored glass.

Ultraviolet light will damage wine by causing the degradation of the otherwise stable organic compounds, especially the tannins found in wine. These organic compounds contribute to the aroma, flavor and structure of the wine and without them your wine would appear flat and thin.

So exposure to ultraviolet light results in unfavorable and irreversible changes in your wine. Sparkling wines require extra care as they are more sensitive to light than other wines.

Lay the bottles down!

Your wine bottles should be stored horizontally so the wine stays in contact with the cork. This will keep the cork wet and prevent it drying out and shrinking. If the cork shrinks it will allow air into your wine. Store the bottles with the label facing up. This will permit you to easily see what the wine is; you won't need to disturb the bottle to see what you've got in your cellar; the sediment will form on the opposite side to the label and make it easier to see and the label is less likely to suffer damage. A damaged label will reduce the value of wine being stored as an investment.

Follow the tips above and you'll discover how to start a wine cellar where your wine will age to perfection and a wine cellar that will be the envy of your friends!

about  |  contact us  |  privacy  |  home