Wine Cellar Design

A: A wine cellar is as individualized as your home. While all wine cellars should be focused on function, you should answer some questions before beginning the process of your wine cellar design. How often do I plan to spend time in my wine cellar? Do I want a design similar to the one I currently have throughout my home? Do I want to maintain a focus on function or would I like the space to look more elegant and refined? Do I plan to entertain in this space? How much volume do I plan to store in my wine cellar? The answers to these questions are important to your wine cellar design. You want the time, money and effort being spent on this space to give you the desired result when it is completed.

Learn more about the Viglant design process

A: Upon contracting with a company to build your wine cellar, you should have input on your wine cellar design from the inception of the project. After making the final decision to do business with one company, furnish them with dimensions of the area you have proposed for your wine cellar. The dimensions should include the rooms height (including all entrances) and width. Decide on the design of the racks for your wine cellar and whether or not what you have chosen will fit within the confines of your wine cellar design. Make any requests for special services, such as art or additional furniture. This is also a good time to finalize your financial obligations, including anticipated costs and labor. Ask the company to break down the cost by percentage or an itemized cost sheet of each step of the process of constructing the wine cellar. Make sure you are aware of the cost up front and have signed a contract or agreement for the price you have been quoted.

A: Temperature control is arguably the most important consideration in wine cellar design. Here are some tips involving temperature and your wine cellar: When the temperature of your wine cellar is too warm, your wine will age twice as fast. This means that the flavor will change (usually for the worse) and the taste you are expecting will likely be much different. Frequent changes in temperature can introduce oxygen to your wine. As warmer temperatures take over, the pressure in the bottle expands and causes the wine to lose its luster. This also affects the flavor of the wine. If you want your wine to taste pleasant and have the fullest amount of flavor possible, invest in temperature control methods for your wine cellar.

A: New home construction is on the rise and many homeowners are opting to install wine cellars during the construction phase of their home. After your home has been built and furnished, it is often more difficult to install a wine cellar because of the logistics of large-scale home improvement projects. However, if you work with your architect during the planning stages of your new home, they can suggest and construct an area with the ideal conditions for a wine cellar. This can save you time and money and help to create the perfect environment for storing your wine collection.

A: Wine cellar designs are as varied as the design of individual homes. The wine cellar design you choose should best suit your home and the volume of wine you plan to store. For volume ranges from medium to high, a walk-in wine cellar is the best option available. The size of the wine cellar should depend on the size of your home and what locations are available for this project. A walk-in wine cellar should include an appropriately-sized cooling unit and reinforced paneling throughout the space. Racking options can vary, although modular wine racks are easily adapted to differently sized wine cellars. Accents can include contrasting styles of wood, murals and striking pieces of art and a unique door style. This can make your wine cellar stand out with style and elegance.

A: When you are designing your residential wine cellar, incorporate accents for storage and functional purposes. Designate an area of your custom wine cellar where you can store cases of wine and a different area to entertain guests over your favorite bottle. This would be a good spot for a wine spirits center. A wine spirits center is small enough to fit comfortably into your custom wine cellar without overwhelming the space. It is large enough to serve in a storage capacity for your wine accesssories, stemware and a few of your latest bottles. The center comes with a serving area and is generally made of a rich, mahogany or light beechwood. Choose the center that best fits with the overall design of your home wine cellar.