Building a wine collection? Do you need a place to store it? No problem. With a little knowledge, you can turn any room in your house into a custom wine cellar! These tips will help you get started:
1. Control the temperature
Wine is best stored between 55 and 58 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity level between 50% and 70%. Of course, your cooling system will do this for you. However, it is much easier to keep your temperature strictly controlled if you build it in an area that does not experience extreme changes or fluctuations in temperature or humidity.
This is why most people choose to build their cellar in their basement. You can search for the best wine cellar cooling units or systems from various online sources.
2. Choice of floor surface
A proper cellar needs the right type of flooring material. Carpet and vinyl are huge bans; the vinyl will eventually warp and the carpet is not stable enough and also contains mold and mildew. Your best options are hardwood, concrete, stone, or tile.
3. Adequate lighting
Heat and UV light are the enemies of proper wine storage. For this reason, your nest choice for your cellar lighting is LED. LED lights don't emit a lot of heat and they don't emit ultraviolet light.
4. The right storage racks
Your cellar will be cool and damp, so select a wood that can withstand these conditions, otherwise, your shelves will rot. Good woods to choose from are redwood and mahogany.
Also, be sure to build your shelves with enough support and gussets to support your collection, and to have individual spacers to protect each bottle of wine. For long-term storage, a built-in unit will be sturdy and convenient, and you can purchase pre-made shelves or build your own. But you can also build or buy modular racks that you can move if needed.