Grapes of Passion

So, you have a passion for good wine…  You know what you like.  You have developed an understanding towards the myriad of qualities, complexities, and attributes that structure a wine. You may now purchase in quantity and, perhaps, have begun to build a collection. One thing remains certain, however.  To store and age your precious selections for any length of time, you are going to require a wine cellar.

And, there is nothing quite like passing through the doorway to your own, private wine sanctuary.  The cool air of the cellar washes over you.  You inhale the pleasant fragrance of the hard wood racking.  It is a place to ponder…to appreciate…a place you can call all your own.

I have studied wine cellars for quite some time, and one thing remains clear.  There are a number of ways to build a cellar correctly, but there are a huge number of mistakes that you can make…mistakes that will come back to haunt you down the road.

You have the choice to pay a professional to install your cellar for you, which can get very expensive very quickly.  Or, you can tackle the project yourself.  If you do decide to take on this daunting endeavor personally, be sure to do your research!

Key Topics to Research:

• Insulation (Insulate as if it were an external wall of your home)
• Installing a Vapor Barrier (Room sealed inside the wall on the WARM side of the insulation)
• Doors (Must be insolated)
• Windows (Avoid if possible, must be insulated, should block incoming light)
• Lighting (Light, especially UV light is wine’s enemy)
• Cooling Your Cellar (55 - 59 Degrees would be ideal)
• Humidity (70% is ideal)
• Planning, planning, planning (Ahead of time!)

This is a large undertaking, and I highly recommend that you read this wonderful online guide before you begin: Building Your own Wine Cellar

Enjoy your cellar!

Filed under: Wine Cellar