Wines maintain flavor with proper storage.
Even if you don't have an expensive wine collection, all wine can benefit from storage in a home cellar. When wine is properly stored, it ages well maintaining its flavor whether it's kept for a few weeks or several years. A large space isn't needed to create a home wine cellar, but location and temperature control are important factors often overlooked by wine enthusiasts.
Instructions
1. Decide how much wine you want to store in your home cellar to determine how much space you need. A 25-square-foot space could accommodate nearly 500 bottles of wine, but the size of the bottles is also a factor. For example, one magnum bottle takes up the same amount of space as two Bordeaux bottles.
2. Choose the coolest spot in your home for the cellar to conserve energy. Wine should be stored in spaces where the temperature is around 57 degrees. Basements are often ideal locations for wine cellars because they typically stay cool. However, a wine cooling unit will likely be needed because even basements go through temperature changes. Cooling units sense temperature changes and turn on only when needed.
3. Plan for good insulation to maintain proper relative humidity. Cellar manufacturers recommend a humidity level of 55 to 75 percent. Humidity will prevent bottle corks from drying out and spoiling the flavor of your wines from oxidation. Vapor barriers on the ceiling and walls of your cellar will help keep the humidity at the right level.
4. Get a humidification system to help maintain relative humidity. For easier maintenance, look for a system that doesn't require manual water refills. Systems that emit humidity as a vapor prevent the release of bacteria into the airstream.
5. Choose flooring that can stand up to the higher humidity level required for a wine cellar without promoting mildew. Tile and finished hardwood floors are a couple of viable options.
6. Determine how much you want to spend on a rack system for your bottles of wine. Modular kits can be inexpensive and easy to assemble. They are available in different heights and can even be stacked as high as the ceiling. More expensive storage systems allow for additional customization, such as shelving constructed from cedar, mahogany, or other premium woods.
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