How to Build a Wine Cellar

Thinking of having your own wine cellar in your home? We listed the things you need to consider when you are planning to construct your own wine cellar for your place.

We already know what self-contained, ducted, and ductless split wine cellar cooling units, but what are through-the-wall cooling systems? Through-the-wall cooling systems are basically self-contained which are compared to air conditioners that cannot vent outside. They can only vent into an adjacent room bigger than the maximum cooling capacity of the specific unit. 

The upside of getting a through-the-wall wine cellar cooling unit is you do not have to hire a professional HVAC-R technician to install them. A handy person who is knowledgeable about air conditioning installation will do.

6 Best Through-the-Wall Wine Cellar Cooling Units

Now, let's look at 6 of the best through-the-wall wine cellar cooling systems with different specifications and features!

WhisperKOOL SC PRO 3000 Self-Contained Wine Cellar Unit

Featuring high-end components at a very affordable price, the WhisperKOOL SC PRO 3000 comes with a new blower fan system that significantly lowers the noise it produces, liquid temperature measuring probe, coated evaporator coil, front or rear power switch, and advanced digital controller.

This cooling system also reintroduces a condensation management system --- a process where it effectively evaporates up to 3oz of water per hour --- which is great for storing and aging wine for long periods of time. If you are planning to have a small wine cellar, the WhisperKOOL SC PRO 3000 can be the one you are looking for.

Specs

Breezaire WKL 4000 Cooling System

Breezaire WKL 4000 combines the attractive metal cabinet with great functionality. This cooling unit features an ultra-quiet operation great for preserving the atmosphere of isolation inside your wine cellar from the outside environment, vibration control perfect for storing and aging vintage wines, and automatic humidity control to prevent cork and label deterioration.

It also comes with adjustable temperature control from 50°F - 60°F and uncompromising quality. If you are planning to have a wine cellar up to 1000 cu.ft., the Breezaire WKL 400 is definitely a wine cellar cooling system worth looking into.

Specs

WhisperKOOL Slimline 3300 Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

The Slimline wine cellar cooling unit is one of WhisperKOOL's most compact and quietest self-contained through the wall cooling system. The WhisperKOOL Slimline 3300 is designed to be mounted between the cellar door and ceiling providing efficient cooling and cannot be easily seen by people. It is equipped with WhisperKOOL's Platinum Series utilizing advanced system protection technology for efficient cooling performance and this cooling system's life. Check the full specification of the WhisperKOOL Slimline 3300 if you are looking for an amazing cooling unit for your wine cellar.

Specs

Breezaire WKL 8000 Wine Fridge System

The Breezaire WKL 8000 comes with Sentry III intelligent programming which automatically monitors the temperature inside your wine cellar and the fan speed, Sentry III's easy-to-read digital electric control system with green LED display, and this system also protects your cooling unit from damages from power outages and temperature problems caused by fan failure and/or condenser blockage. If you are looking for a very quiet and vibration-free cooling system, the Breezaire WKL 8000 is an amazing choice for you.

Specs

Breezaire WKCE 1060 Cooling System

If you are looking for a cooling unit that you can install in a cabinet, the Breezaire WKCE 1060 might be the one for you! This cooling system features a compact design with a cold air vent on the bottom which makes it ideal to be installed in a cabinet. It is made specifically for cabinets and other constricted enclosures and not rated based on cubic feet. Breezaire WKCE 1060 comes with an easy-to-read large green LED display, power outage protection system, and uses a thermoelectric compressor.

Specs

WhisperKOOL Extreme 5000tiR Self-Contained Cooling Unit (w/ Remote)

Designed with easy installation in mind, you won't need to hire an HVAC-R technician to install the WhisperKOOL Extreme 5000tiR. This cooling system uses the KDT Plus remote controller and thermostat which can be mounted up to 50 ft outside the wine cellar allowing you to monitor the temperature and humidity inside without having to enter the cellar. If you are looking for a cooling system that doesn't need you to hire experts to install and saving money, the WhisperKool Extreme 5000tiR might be the one for you.

Specs

Why do you Need a Wine Cellar?

First and foremost, you need to think about what is the main purpose of your wine cellar. Is it for storing and aging wine or do you want to entertain your guests and showcase your collections? How many bottles and what types of wine do you want to store in it? What kind of racks do you want --- the traditional wood racks or contemporary metal racks? 

If you want to entertain guests in your wine cellar, you might want to consider having a center island. If you have the budget and space, you can add your own personality or touch to your wine cellars.

Determine the Size of the Wine Cellar

This is step #2. In order to determine the size of your wine cellar, you need to know how many bottles you wish to store, if you have other things, like a center island, you want to add, and how much space you can devote to your cellar. 

Identify the Location

The most important part of planning for your own wine cellar for your home is its location. Basically, you can have your cellar anywhere in your home but the location you choose will have an impact on the cost you spend in maintaining your cellar.

Wine cellars should be places in the coolest and most humid part of your home. When the temperature is closer to 55°F - 58°F and the humidity to 55% - 75% the smaller the size of the cooling system you will need. Which means less money you will need to spend. 

The heat surrounding your wine cellar will affect it. If the surrounding environment is above 65°, you will need to get a much larger cooling system which is more expensive, to maintain the ideal temperature inside your wine cellar.

Add 3 Critical Components

Let's now talk about the 3 most important components of a wine cellar to properly store and age your wine.

Insulation

It's a great idea to insulate the ceiling and walls of your wine cellars. You can save some bucks when your cellar is properly insulated. We recommend a minimum of R19 batt insulation for your 2x6 walls and R30 for the ceiling, supposing you have 2x10 joists. 

If your cellar is located in the basement, you do not have to insulate your floors but otherwise --- for example, a closet or if it is on the second floor of your home --- it will be wise to insulate the joist bays as well. You can also add some thick carpeting to help with the insulation.

If you are converting a closet or an existing room into a wine cellar, you can also consider blowing insulation between the joist bays.

Vapor & Moisture Barrier

Vapor and moisture barriers are materials designed to prevent water or moisture from getting pass through the barriers. These are needed in your wine cellar to make sure you get the desired humidity and temperature to properly store and age your wine. The most common vapor barrier used for wine cellars is 6 mil polyethylene sheeting or Visqueen. It is wrapped around your entire cellar on the outside of the insulation.

The Door

Not just any door will do. You will need an insulated exterior door or a solid interior door to keep warm air from going in your wine cellar and cool air from escaping. If you are going for a solid door, you need to add a little weather stripping around the jamb and at the bottom sweep.

Airtight Seal

It is necessary that when the door is closed, no air should come in and out of your wine cellar. 

Investing in a Wine Cellar Cooling System

Select a wine cellar cooling system that can last for a long time and made by a known company to make sure you get what you paid for. Just like companies like Breezaire and WhisperKOOL!

Wine Racks

There are various wine racks you can have in your wine cellar but here are 4 popular types:

Individual Bottle Storage

This type cradles your bottles individually in their own cell, either single or double deep. The great part of having individual bottle storage is that the cradles can have various sizes perfect for storing various types and sizes of wines. It can be made from wood or metal, depending on your preference.

Diamond Bin Storage

If your aim is to store or age wines in bulk, diamond bins are for you. They are very flexible and can accommodate various-sized wine bottles. This type of rack is ideal for long storage or aging of wine because it will be difficult to access the wines at the bottom part. Careful and gentle handling is needed if you choose to store your wine in this type of rack.

Case Storage

This type of rack lets you store your wine in its original cases or boxes. There are wood and cardboard cases. Wood cases are wider and shorter while cardboard cases are narrower but taller. It is also great to have sliding shelves to easily access your wine.

Tabletops

Tabletops offer convenient and attractive cases great for opening and pouring wine. It can be made from wood or stone surfaces. This type of rack is great for displaying your wine and accessories.

Best Through-the-Wall Wine Cellar Cooling Systems

Through-the-wall wine cellar cooling units are great if you are looking for more affordable but effective cooling systems for your wine cellar. This type is also ideal for smaller wine cellars. They are very easy to install in a standard sheetrock wall.

However, many people with bigger and spacious wine cellar prefer ducted and split ones because they are quieter. Venting through-the-wall units into real living spaces are not ideal because they are louder.

If you can't have a wine cellar in your home, it might be a great idea to have a wine cooler instead.