Types of Wine Storage

A: During the planning process of your residential wine cellar, allot for wine racks that hold abnormally sized wine bottles. The average size of a wine bottle is 750 ml. However, larger bottles have become more common and actually store wine better than smaller bottles. A good rule of thumb is to store four to six bottles of your best wine in magnum-sized wine bottles, which are among the largest available. Do not purchase bottles larger than magnum-size because they are difficult to handle and store. Flexible wine racks can accommodate your differently sized wine bottles. Also, remember to group your wines by size for convenience.

A: A wine cart is a portable storage option for your home wine cellar. Many models hold up to six bottles of wine in each bin (usually totaling around 30 bottles for each cart). The trays come off the cart one layer at a time and have a support tray at the bottom of the cart. The cart is portable, which is particularly convenient when you are entertaining guests and want to highlight more than one label at a time.

A: Trying to reach bottles stored in high places is a common complaint of many wine cellar owners. For this reason, a handy piece of wine cellar equipment is a rolling ladder. A rolling ladder can assist you in reaching bottles stored higher up on your racking system. It contains wheels on the bottom of the ladder for ease of movement and convenience. Rolling ladders are generally made of wood and you can choose one to match your wine cellar racks. The retailer should install the tracks in the wine cellar floor and make sure the wheels move smoothly over the type of flooring you have in the space.

A: Although Mahogany is the best wood for wine cellars and wine storage. Wine cellar racks are not the only pieces of cellar equipment that properly store wine. Consider using pine cubes to store bottles and cases of wine. They are stackable and easy to expand. Every compartment is capable of holding six bottles of wine, and two cases worth of wine fits into four compartments. This is an easy-to-assemble storage method that can add a bulk of storage space to your wine cellar.

A: A glass rack is another added convenience in your wine cellar equipment. A rack of glasses is convenient for wine tasting events with family and friends. A hanging glass rack usually provides storage for 15 to 20 glasses and should be securely fastened to the wall to avoid any accidental damage to your stemware. Make sure glasses are clean, sparkling and similar in size. This stemware rack adds an elegant tasting area to your wine cellar. Check out Vigilant's hanging stemware racks and rectangular bin stemware shelves as well as all our modular cabinets.

A: A freestanding wine cellar boasts a number of great features, all of which highlight why it is an excellent addition to your cache of wine cellar equipment. You can adjust the temperature inside of the wine cellar and most models come with chrome racks that pull out to display the contents of the cellar. There should also be an anti-tip feature on the product and a basket capable of holding two magnum-sized bottles of wine.

A: Most wine cellars have refrigeration units to store bottles of wine in addition to the wine cellar cooling unit, which keeps the cellar at the proper temperature. Any wine cooling or refrigeration system should be installed in the wine cellar ONLY after the room has been completely dry-walled. However, if possible, the initial wiring for both systems should be run while the wine cellar is in the rough framing process. If you plan to run both systems, focus more on efficiency and the correct process of installation versus the cost of splitting up the initial process. This will benefit you most once the wine project has been completed.

A: Wine storage cabinet styles are as varied as wine storage racks and other storage accesssories found in your wine cellar. Some have better amenities and they are not all made with the same quality and artisanship. Inspect all aspects of a wine storage cabinet before you make a purchase. What type of hinges does the wine storage cabinet contain? For example, you cannot use a piano hinge on a wine storage cabinet because it will cause the door of the cabinet to close improperly. How durable are the walls of the wine storage cabinet? This is significant because you will be storing bottles of wine, some of which may weigh up to 3 lbs each. The construction of your wine storage cabinet must be able to stand up to the weight of the wine bottles it will hold.

A: Wine storage options are as varied as the wines being stored. There are a number of facilities offering wine storage services for a nominal fee. However, in most cases, people want to be able to store their wine collection right at home --- for convenience and accesssibility. A wine storage cabinet can provide the perfect atmosphere for a smaller collection of wine to help owners keep their collections in their homes. Wine storage cabinets are temperature and humidity controlled, durable and generally affordable. These cellars are a great addition to your wine furniture collection and can be a viable substitute for a walk-in wine cellar in your home. A number of different brands and styles exist for wine storage cabinets, so choose one that fits in with the overall decor of your home.

A: Wine storage lockers are yet another potential avenue in wine storage. Wine storage lockers are usually located within a wine storage facility and are available for small quantities of wine. Similar to a walk-in wine cellar, wine storage lockers are temperature and humidity controlled and incur regular maintenance to be sure your wine stays in the best possible condition. Insurance is usually included with the cost of storing your wine in a wine storage locker, if the locker is located within a storage facility. You can usually accesss your wine during the facility's business hours. However, keep in mind that you should always have a bottle available in your home as many wine storage facilities keep day and early evening hours only. You likely will not be able to accesss your wine storage locker after these hours.

A: A wine cooler is a good wine storage component to house a small collection or a few bottles from your wine cellar. A wine cooler is similar to a refrigerator, however, it can be set to the proper temperature and humidity levels to assure your wine maintains a good quality. Regular refrigerators are not meant for wine storage. They maintain cooler than necessary temperatures and are constantly being opened and closed, which causes temperature fluctuations and unnecessary movement. These factors cause a negative impact on your wine. A wine cooler maintains a consistent temperature and can help to preserve your wine in the best condition possible.