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Where should I put a wine cellar in my home?
In the initial stages of wine cellar design, an important factor to consider is the environment surrounding the wine cellar. Do not plan wine cellars around areas of your home with high amounts of activity.

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Ask The Wine Storage Experts

Our experts have been asked many questions about wine cellars, wine racks and wine storage over the years. Here are some to get you started. If you still need answers, submit your question!
  1. Do I need an actively conditioned wine cellar?
  2. Is the angle of the display row steep enough to keep the cork wet? It seems that only a small amount of wine is coming into contact with the cork.  
  3. With a “through the wall” cooling system how much heat would the exhaust produce?
  4. How do redwood wine racks differ from your mahogany wine racks? 
  5. Do you have an R-factor rating for your wine cellar doors?
  6. How much wine can I store in a specific space?
  7. Why do I need a wine cellar and what are the ideal conditions for storing wine?
  8. What are the differences between all of the different kind of wines out there?
  9. What are the differences between all of the different wine bottles and which racks can they fit it?
  10. Can white wine and champagne be stored in the same cellar with reds?
  11. Do I need to insulate & vapor barrier my concrete walls?
  12. How long will wine last stored in ideal conditions?
  13. Does wine or port need to be turned periodically to prevent the cork from drying out?
  14. How should a wine bottle be stored?
  15. How can I tell if my wine has been improperly stored?
  16. What woods should or should not be considered when building a wine cellar?
  17. Where can I learn about the latest wine events in the industry?

  1. Do I need an actively conditioned wine cellar?
     A: In general, actively conditioned wine cellars are better for storing fine wines than passive wine cellars. Proper wine storage requires constant temperature and humidity control that a passively cooled wine cellar might not always be able to deliver. A mechanical cooling system with humidification such as the Climatech will maintain a constant cool temperature and humidity to promote proper aging.
    View the ideal conditions page

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  2. Is the angle of the display row steep enough to keep the cork wet? It seems that only a small amount of wine is coming into contact with the cork.  
     A: The display angle on our wine racking is 20 degrees and is steep enough to keep the cork wet. As long as the wine is touching part of the cork, it will remain moist.

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  3. With a “through the wall” cooling system how much heat would the exhaust produce?
     A: The cooling unit should be vented into a non-living space at least twice as large as the wine cellar itself.  The systems cannot be vented to the outdoors.

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  4. How do redwood wine racks differ from your mahogany wine racks? 
     A: Redwood is a light, soft wood that is used in wine cellars, because of its resistance to rot and mildew in a damp cellar.  However, our wood of choice, mahogany, is a hardwood and also resistant to decay, so it is has more longevity and is less likely to dent. 

    Specifications of Vigilant Wine Rack Kits

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  5. Do you have an R-factor rating for your wine cellar doors?
     A: The R-factor for our mahogany wine cellar doors is R-7. R-factor refers to the thickness of insulation.

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  6. How much wine can I store in a specific space?
     A: The chart below shows the approximate number of bottles that will fit in a wine cellar space. For example, a 5' x 10' room with a 90” ceiling will accommodate about 968 bottles. Of course this will vary greatly depending on your cellar design.

     
    Ceiling Height
    84”
    90”
    96”
    104”

     

    Room
    Dimensions

    5' x 5'

    540*

    594*

    648*

    702*

    5' x 10'

    880*

    968*

    1056*

    1144*

    10' x 10'

    1400*

    1540*

    1680*

    1820*

    10' x 15'

    1960*

    2156*

    2352*

    2548*

    15' x 15'

    2520*

    2772*

    3024*

    3276*

    15' x 20'

    3040*

    3344*

    3648*

    3952*

    20' x 20'

    3580*

    3938*

    4296*

    4654*

    20' x 25'

    4100*

    4510*

    4920*

    5330*

    25' x 25'

    4600*

    5060*

    5520*

    5980*

    *Bottles

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  7. Why do I need a wine cellar and what are the ideal conditions for storing wine?
    A: If you love wine and want to collect and age them, then a wine cellar is a necessity. Wine is alive and it responds to its environment. In fact, a wine's surroundings will determine its ideal maturity date and will also impact its character when it's consumed.

    There are four key elements to proper long-term wine storage: temperature, humidity, light and vibration.

    Temperature: An important long-term storage factor. Temperature levels in a wine cellar must be cool and constant. The generally accepted temperature for storing wine is 55°F, although a range of 50° to 60°F is considered acceptable. White wines prefer it as cool as 45 degrees. In general, higher temperatures make wines age faster, while cooler temperatures slow the aging process. Higher temperatures may also cause alcohol separation. When temperatures become too low, however, deposits or other suspensions may develop in the wine.

    Sudden or wide fluctuations in a wine's temperature will interrupt the proper aging process. Temperature variations not only shrink and swell the cork, but they may also directly affect the organic components in the wine. Gradual fluctuations of up to 10°F between seasons will not likely damage your wine, however, more frequent fluctuations of this magnitude will negatively affect the proper aging process.

    Humidity: For long-term wine storage, a relative humidity of about 65% at approximately 55°F is ideal, however, a range between 60% and 80% is acceptable. Wine is stored on its side so that the wine is in contact with the cork at all times, keeping the cork wet.

    Lower humidity levels will dry the air-side of the cork, allowing for air leakage or capillary pull action of the wine toward the dry side. This allows oxygen to come in contact with the wine, causing immediate aging. High humidity levels will not harm the wine. In fact, to a true oenephile, moldy wine bottles is an indication that the wine has been stored properly for long-term storage. Cardboard boxes will not survive in cellars with high humidity levels, and should therefore be removed from the cellar. These boxes will become soggy and structurally unsound, thus putting your wine at risk.

    Light: Ultraviolet light causes premature aging of wines. While wine in clear bottles is most susceptible, wine in dark bottles can be affected as well. Ultraviolet light breaks down some of the complex components and may even produce unpleasant aromas. Sparkling wines are the most sensitive to light and should be stored in the darkest part of your cellar. Incandescent or sodium vapor lighting are generally better for your cellar than fluorescent light sources, however, as long as light exposure is infrequent, it won't have a negative impact on your collection.

    Vibration: While generally not a problem in residential wine cellars, excessive vibration can disturb a wine's sediment balance. Sediments are meant to fall out of wine and vibration could reintroduce them back into liquid form. Wine should be organized and stored away from cooling system vibrations.

    Additional considerations: Wine should always be stored away from strong smelling compounds and foods. These odors can penetrate a weak cork and eventually change a wine's character.

    Recommended Wine Cellar Construction Specifications - The Ideal Environment

    A temperature of 50° F to 55° F and a Relative Humidity of 60% to 70% are ideal for long-term wine storage. A cool temperature slows the aging process, while high humidity helps to swell the cork, which minimizes oxidation. (Oxidation occurs when air reaches the wine.) Ultraviolet light penetration should be kept to a minimum.

    Wine Cellar Construction: In order to maintain the ideal environment for your wine, we recommend that your conditioned wine cellar be constructed according to the specifications below. This will help ensure the efficient operation of your cooling system in order to provide the necessary temperature and humidity and will also prevent possible moisture damage to areas adjacent to the cellar.

    Insulation Walls: R-19 minimum
    Insulation Ceiling: R-30 minimum

    Vapor Barrier: 6 mil polyethylene walls and ceilings, installed between insulation and exterior sheathing. Rigid foam insulation is a little more expensive, but gives a greater R- value in thin walls.

    Sheathing: ½” moisture resistant green board with mildew resistant paint or tongue and groove wood paneling such as mahogany. **

    Flooring: Recommended Products: brick, tile or stone (sealed)

    Cellar Door: Exterior grade insulated door with complete weather stripping and double insulated glass (optional)

    Actively Conditioned Wine Cellars: Even the basements of most modern homes are too warm and dry to passively provide the ideal conditions for wine storage. In most cases it is necessary to actively condition the environment inside the wine cellar. The most common conditioning unit on the market is a through-wall system that performs much like a room air conditioner. These units blow warm escape air into a space contiguous to the wine cellar. The space for the escape air must be at least one half the size of the wine cellar and must not be subjected to temperatures below 45° F. A workroom or utility area in your basement is ideal for this. There are also more sophisticated cooling and conditioning units available known as split systems. While more expensive to purchase and install, these systems offer better control of the environment and allow for tremendous flexibility of installation. With split systems, the condensing part of the system can be placed outside the home and pipe d to the evaporator inside the wine cellar.

    **Note: When installing wood paneling in a wine cellar, allowance must be made for the expansion and contraction of the wood. Failure to do so may result in buckling and cracking of the wood.

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  8. What are the differences between all of the different kinds of wine out there?
    A: See the Wine Guide

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  9. What is the difference between all of the various wine bottle sizes and which racks do they best fit in?
    A: See the Wine Bottle Storage Chart

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  10. Can white wine and champagne be stored in the same cellar with reds?
    A: Yes, however you will need to put them in a refrigerator for approximately one hour to get them to the ideal drinking temperature.

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  11. Do I need to insulate & vapor barrier my concrete walls?
    A:If you are using a cooling system, you must insulate and install vapor barrier over concrete and stone walls. When the wine cellar walls are against a stone or concrete foundation the vapor barrier should still be used to prevent moisture from escaping cellar space.

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  12. How long will wine last stored in ideal conditions?
    A: In general, red wines are aging wines and whites are drinking wines. Actual maturation times for red wines depend on the type of grape, the quality of the vintage, and size of the bottle. Tannins, which come from the grape stems and skins, are the backbone of the aging process. Tannins produce a sharp, bitter taste, which over time will precipitate out of the wine allowing the other characteristics of the wine to come forth.

    Red wines get their color from the grape skin where as white wines may not have contact with skin at all during the process of making the wine. Therefore red wines usually have a greater tannin content than whites and therefore are generally aged longer.

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  13. Does wine or port need to be turned periodically to prevent the cork from drying out?
    A: No, Wines stored on their sides will keep the cork moist and sediments will settle and even stick to the side of the bottle.

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  14. How should a wine bottle be stored?
    A: Wine bottles should be stored horizontally, keeping the wine in constant contact with the cork. A moist cork remains swollen, preventing air from reaching the wine. This reduces the risk of premature aging through oxidation, which occurs when oxygen reaches the wine, turning it to vinegar.

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  15. How can I tell if my wine has been improperly stored?
    A: First look at the location of the wine in the bottle. The bottle curves to the neck at the shoulder. When standing, a properly stored wine will fill the bottle to half way between the shoulder and the top of the bottle. Wines that are “low in the shoulder” have experienced evaporation and oxidization though the cork. This would indicate that the wine has prematurely aged. A cork that bulges beyond the top of the bottles is another indication of premature aging. This can be felt under the capsule.

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  16. What woods should or should not be considered when building a wine cellar?
    A: Tropical hardwoods such as mahogany are ideal for wine cellar racking. Rot and moisture resistant, these woods are also hard, giving them the strength to hold large quantities of wine. Redwood, a softwood can be used as well. Some types of wood to avoid are: birch, cherry and oak which will hold mildew in a damp environment unless treated.



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  17. Where can I learn about the latest wine events in the industry?
    A: Please check out the wine events page of our website. It offers events and seminar ideas all over the country.



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