The Side Bar
by Tony Arnold

The Side Bar
by Tony Arnold

Pictured are the Vintage View Wine cellar racking system.  PHG is now a retailer of these flexible and simple-to-install wine storage racks. Ask for details.

How to Build a Wine Cellar
Wine cellar building, made easy.

Do I need to "build" a cellar with a cooling unit or can I just use a spare closet or cool space in my basement?  
The answer is that unless you are serious about aging wine very long term (5+ years) typically a cool, sunless, basement location with a natural 55-65 degrees F temperature should be an adequate environment for your wine. 

A simple dedicated cellar is advisable for mid to long-term storage/aging.  A properly designed and insulated room in your cool basement with a natural 55-65 degrees F temperature is called a "passive cellar".  Passive cellars are just like the old-world cellars and are simply rooms that are built below ground level and stay cool naturally. Just as the basement is always the coolest place in your house, the natural ground temperature will be consistent at about 55-65 degrees F to protect your wine for long-term storage and no cooling equipment is typically required if the room is built correctly.  Many people find that a, below ground, corner of the basement, free from windows and doors, enclosed and prepared as recommended below, will maintain it's temperature and humidity well without the need for a cooling unit. 

Those individuals focusing on longer-term aging of wine or utilizing a space which is warmer or colder than the range indicated should consider a wine cooling unit such as WhisperKOOL, BREEZAIRE, Koolspace, or CHILLR which regulate not only the temperature to an ideal 55 degrees F but also the humidity of the cellar. 

Our general recommendation is to plan and build your cellar to accommodate a cooling unit should it be required at a later time, you may find that your cellar naturally maintains a good wine storage temperature without the additional cost of a cooling unit.  To plan ahead for a cooling unit, simply frame in a space in the cellar as recommended by the cooler manufacturer including electrical, but insulate and drywall over the space when finishing the cellar.  During the first few months you will know whether a cooler is required and can re-open the covered area to install the cooler.

Wine Cellar Construction
A wine cellar must be constructed like a refrigerator, it should be cool but not cold, should be humid but not to humid, should be fairly air tight but not so tight that there is poor interior ventilation, and finally insulated but only in a specific way. Simply installing a cooling system in the wall of a closet without converting the room correctly will not work properly and could cause damage to your walls, ceiling and most of all your wine.  All those caveats noted, converting a room or space for wine storage is very straightforward and fairly inexpensive investment in your long-term enjoyment of wine.

Target Temperature
The ideal temperature to store wines is between 50 - 58 degrees F. However, any temperature between 40 - 65 degrees F will suffice as long as it remains constant. The degree and the speed of the temperature change are critical. A gradual change of a few degrees between summer and winter won't matter. The same change each day will harm your wines by aging them too rapidly.  The most important rule when storing wine is to avoid large temperature changes or fluctuations. You'll notice damage of this nature right away from the sticky deposit that often forms around the capsule. Over time the continual expansion and contraction of the wine will damage the 'integrity' of the cork. It's like having the cork pulled in and out, over and over every day. When this happens, small quantities of wine may be pushed out along the edge of the cork (between the cork and the bottle neck) allowing air to seep back in. Once the air is in contact with your wine the irreversible process of oxidation begins and your wine goes bad very quickly. At 50 - 58 degrees F the wine will age properly, enabling it to fully develop. Higher temperatures will age wine more rapidly and cooler temperatures will slow down the aging process. Irreversible damage will be done if your wine is kept at a temperature above 82 degrees F, for even a month. At 55°F wines will age slowly and develop great complexity and you will never have to worry about them.

Target Humidity
Moderate humidity is important to keep the corks in good resilient condition and thereby preventing them from shrinking. A relative humidity of 50-80% is the acceptable range, but 70% is recommended. Excessive humidity will not harm the wine but will cause the labels and any other paper products – like cardboard boxes – you have in the cellar to rot. Insufficient humidity may cause the corks to dry out, lose their elasticity and allow air to get into the bottle.

Location
Unlike real estate the location of you wine cellar matters very little assuming construction requirements are adhered to and temperature and humidity can be maintained.  I know individuals with cellars in their basements, under their garages, first and second floors, and top floor penthouses.  I have a friend who's 500 bottle basement cellar, maintains an almost ideal 57-60 degree temperature year around without a cooling unit.  His design has a double shut off for the duct work and air vent in the cellar which prevents warm are from being blown into the cellar during the winter and during the summer the vent is opened to blow cool air-conditioned air into the cellar - this works great and he has never had an issue. 

Location will play a very important roll if you are attempting to harness the geothermal cooling abilities of good old fashioned dirt and your already cool 56-62 degree Nebraska basement. If you are like me you would prefer your cooling unit not run constantly and that is where an un-used corner or basement wall can be your best wine cellar location from an efficiency perspective.  Generally the North West corner is the preferred location (typically it is cooler due to limited sun light exposure externally and internally), however any underground basement wall or corner without windows or doors will work.  

Wall & Ceiling Framing
Cellar walls are typically built with standard 2” x 4” or 2” x 6” construction methods and ceiling joists following the guidelines of local and state codes in the area. The general rule for a cellar is the thicker the walls, the better the insulation factor, and the better the cellar remains at a consistent temperature.   Interior walls must have an absolute minimum of R-13 insulation and exterior walls must have a minimum of R-19 with ceilings having a minimum of R-19 insulation rating.

Vapor Barrier
Vapor barrier is REQUIRED if a climate control cooling unit is installed to keep the cellar at the correct temperature and prevent potential moisture damage. The 6 mm plastic sheeting (available in the painting aisle of any hardware store) is applied to the hot side (outside) of the cellar walls. The vapor barrier must be either applied to the outside walls and ceiling, or if it is impossible to get to the outside, then the plastic must be applied from within the cellar. The most common method is to wrap the entire interior, leaving the plastic loose in the stud cavity so the insulation can be placed between each stud. All walls and ceiling must be wrapped in plastic for a complete vapor barrier.

Insulation
Insulation is REQUIRED if a climate control cooling unit is going to be used. The R-value or thickness of insulation is determined by the thickness of the walls and ceiling. For example, fiberglass insulation of R13 is designed to be used in a 2” x 4” wall and R19 is used in a 2” x 6” wall. It is important to use the correct insulation for the wall thickness. A minimum of R13 should be applied to the walls of a cellar. R19 to R30 is recommended in the ceiling. Standard "Fiberglass" or "Rigid Foam" insulation is normally used in cellar construction, or in some cases, blown in insulation is used. It is very important that all walls and ceiling be insulated to keep the cellar temperature as consistent as possible during the summer and winter months.

Wall & Ceiling Coverings
The interior wall and ceiling covering is determined by the decor theme of the cellar. If dry walling the cellar it is recommended to use rot and mildew resistant bathroom type green board versus regular drywall.  Other options include Redwood and other rot and mildew resistant woods, granite, marble, tile or stone. All paints and/or stains must be water base type and air completely to rid wine cellar of odors. Once the cellar is at the correct temperature and humidity, smells will only get worse, be careful not to use oil based paints for this reason.  The most commonly used covering is cedar closet liner or redwood (depending of the racking materials) tongue and groove material applied to the walls and ceiling.

Cellar Doors
If a cooling system is installed, an exterior grade (1¾") door must be installed as a cellar door. It is very important that weather stripping is attached to all 4 sides of the doorjamb. A bottom "sweep" or threshold is also recommended. The door must have a very good seal to keep the cool cellar air from escaping out of the cellar. One of the most common problems with cooling units running continually is due to not sealing the door properly. Solid core doors or doors with a full glass insert are most often used. Glass doors must have at least double pane-tempered glass.

Flooring
All types of flooring are used in cellars. A simple sealed or painted concrete basement floor will greatly contribute to a nice cool cellar for wine storage however more attractive floor materials are slate, tile, marble, or vinyl. NEVER USE CARPET. Carpet will mold and mildew in the cool, damp climate conditions of a cellar. As with the case of wall coverings, flooring is normally chosen to match the overall decor colors of the cellar. The flooring should be applied to a level surface. It is best not to apply base trim or moldings to the walls behind the racking. Concrete ground floors need a vapor barrier only (sealed with concrete sealant). Any above ground floors need to be R-19 insulated with a vapor barrier prior to flooring being laid.

Lighting
Lighting a wine cellar is an important part of the overall cellar decor. "Air Lock" recessed ceiling lights are the most popular. These should be put on dimmer switches to control brightness. In most cases, these are used as the main lights within the cellar.  Also popular are various display lights to accent different areas of the cellar. Some cellar contractors offer display "rope" lighting that is specially designed and built to fit into the display angle of individual bottle racking. Different types of spotlights are used to highlight picture openings, table areas, or large format display bottles. It is recommended that all lighting be on a timer system or motion sensor switch so they can't be left on for long periods of time. Lights cause excess heat and will cause the cooling equipment to overwork itself.

Ventilation
The necessity of dissipating heat away from the cooling system is critical to the units performance. As the cooling unit operates and cools, an equal or greater amount of heat is generated on the exhaust side of the unit. Adequate ventilation is required in order to dissipate heat away from the unit. If ventilation is inadequate, the exhaust will heat up and adversely affect the unit's inability to cool. Also make sure there is a 3 foot horizontal clearance in the front and rear of the unit. This will assure the unit can vent air in an efficient manner.

Other Considerations for Climate Controlled Cellars
For cellars less than 2000 cubic feet in size, there are two main types of units: "Through The Wall" systems and "Split Systems". For larger cellars over 2000 cubic feet, commercial refrigeration equipment is typically used and must be installed by a certified refrigeration expert.

We recommend that the customer consider purchasing a system with a slightly larger capacity to compensate for the design limitations. Care should be taken to understand the mounting and electrical needs of a cooling unit. 

Happy Cellaring!

There are few things in life that compare to good food, good wine, and great company.  Eat, drink, entertain, and enjoy! - Tony Arnold 2005


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