Wine Cellars
By on Apr 02, 2008
By Clifford Toerien
Wine cellars are no longer the prerogative of the very wealthy, and wine collections need no longer reside in the wine cellar. Whether a serious collector or someone who wants the odd bottle on hand for a dinner party, more and more people are coming up with creative options for building their very own wine "cellar." That wine cellar could be the closet of a twelfth floor condominium, a corner of the garage or even a loft cubbyhole.
What do you need to know to create space in your dream home for your personal wine collection? First, wine needs a certain amount of care. It should be protected from light, heat and air. Most wine bottles (particularly reds), are made from coloured glass because, due to photochemical reactions, wine ages prematurely when exposed to light. Heat also usually accompanies light and, since heat speeds up every kind of chemical reaction, it can turn a wonderful bottle of red into inedible vinegar. Air poses another danger because oxygen can also change the chemical make up of wine. It has an oxidizing effect on the ethyl alcohol in wine that may result in acetic acid, more commonly referred to as yes vinegar.
The above factors are important considerations when deciding where and how your wine will be stored. You should choose an environment that allows the wine to mature at its own pace, instead of an accelerated pace as can be caused by light, heat or air. However, wine should not be kept in too cold an area either. Most experts agree that storage temperatures should sit somewhere between 50°F and 60°F, particularly if you plan on keeping wine for longer than one year. If the amount of wine in your collection is small and the bottles are generally drunk within a few months of purchase a temperature of 70°F is usually fine. Wine should be stored on its side, to keep the cork damp. If the cork is damp it will remain wet and tight in the neck of the bottle, and it won't allow air in. If the bottle is stored standing tall then the cork may dry and often shrink, or become porous, and then the wine will be affected adversely, and may no longer be drinkable.
Serious collectors often feel that the wine should be kept in an area free from any vibrations or movement, however, this is not something that most people have to be worried about, particularly if you are more interested in having wine on hand for guests, rather than amassing expensive wines.
To store the bottles on their sides you will need some kind of shelving system, and these can be as basic or as innovative as you want. Depending on your space and the number of bottles in your collection you may choose to use a conventional "bookcase" unit or to choose something more modern with architectural features and, if space permits, you may also choose to have a wine-tasting table in the storage area. There are also many high-quality kits on the market that just need to be installed, as well as many construction and installation companies. Climate controlled units are another option as they are particularly suitable for smaller homes and hold 20 to 30 bottles.
Whether you are a serious oenophil, or someone who likes to have the occasional glass with friends and family, it is easier than ever to enjoy wine. In fact if there are more and more choice in wine varieties it's good to know there are equally diverse methods for care. And well, why wouldn't we say cheers to that?
