Wine Cellar Materials

A: Spend as much money as you can afford on the elements used in the construction process of your wine cellar. The materials used to construct your cellar need to be durable and made of the best quality possible. Your entire investment is dependent upon your wine cellar standing the test of time in dark, cool, damp conditions. If you are working within the confines of a budget, splurge on the big-ticket construction items. Smaller additions, such as accent lighting or additional decorative items, can be purchased later. If you put a large investment into the construction of your wine cellar similar to the investment you have made in your wine collection, you can guarantee that both will last for years to come.

A: There are varieties of different woods that you can choose for your custom wine rack. The two most popular are mahogany and redwood. Attributes of both include: Mahogany: Superior in its ability to resist moisture to any other wood available. It also takes stain better than any other wood and this is why it has been chosen by boatmakers for thousands of years as the prefered wood. Redwood: This type of wood repels moisture and mildew and is popular for signs and outdoor projects. Redwood wine racks work well in dark, damp wine cellars.

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A: Wooden wine racks are a great choice for wine storage. There are a variety of woods to choose from, giving you the opportunity to custom blend them into the design of your wine cellar. Wooden wine racks also serve a functional purpose because they do not allow temperature changes to be conducted through the rack into the wine. Because of this, your wine can properly complete the aging process. Wooden wine racks come in stackable models, giving you the option of storing large quantities of wine in your wine cellar.

A: Metal wine racks are one of the more sturdy wine racking options for storing bottles. Metal wine racks function well in warm or cool, wet or dry storage conditions. Racks are either built in a consistent modular style or customized to hold different types of bottles. Metal wine racks also come in a variety of different colors and styles. They can be used in conjunction with other types of wine racks. Choose one that works best with your overall racking system and decor of your wine cellar.

A: Wrought iron wine jails are one of the more common wine racks usually seen in commercial wine retailers. They have recently begun popping up in home wine cellars around the world. The rise in popularity can be attributed to the variety of designs available and the elegance they exude in a home interior. Wrought iron wine jails securely cradle bottles stored on it; and in most cases, in the preferred horizontal position. They can also house differently sized bottles. However, you should have measurements in mind before purchasing a wrought iron jail rack to be sure this wine rack style can accommodate the bottle sizes in your entire collection.

A: Elegant wine racks abound in retailers across the globe. However, mahogany consistently stands out as the richest, deepest and most stylish of all woods. Some mahogany corner wine racks can be purchased with a glass, tabletop to display candles, flowers or other home decor items. An easy fit into any wine storage space, mahogany is durable enough to be housed in a cool, dark wine cellar and stylish enough to grace even the most elaborate living room space.

A: Before finalizing your wine cellar plans, ask your architect or project supervisor about using off-the-shelf materials in the construction process. Using off-the-shelf materials can help you save considerably on the cost of building your wine cellar. These materials can include sheetrock, lighting elements, wine cellar doors or windows, wine racks or wine storage bins. You can still customize your wine cellar by mixing those materials with custom elements, such as art, antique furnishings and handcrafted fixtures. This is one way to have a one-of-a-kind wine cellar without driving up the cost.

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