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- How to Build a Wine Cellar
- Cellar Location
- Fundamentals of Wine Storage
- Recommended Cellar Construction
- Wine Cellar Cooling Units
- Best Wine Cellar Cooling Units
- Wine Racks
- Ultra Wine Racks & Cellars
- Wine Rack Ideas
- Wine Cellar Cooling Unit and Wine Rack for Sale
How to Build a Wine Cellar
Curating a wine collection that is unique to your tastes is one of the most rewarding aspects of enjoying wine. However, selecting and purchasing wines is not just the beginning of the process: they must first be properly stored.
It takes a lot of time, money, and effort to build a practical and efficient wine cellar. To successfully preserve your wines, you'll need to understand the fundamentals of wine storage.
We'll cover all you need to know about wine storage in this article, including the optimal conditions for storing your wine. You'll also learn how to store your wine bottles in the simplest and most cost-effective method possible!
Before we delve into the complexities later in this article, let's first go through some of the most significant and common features of storage that you may (and should) implement.
Cellar Location
Choosing the best location for your home wine cellar.
Finding a good location is the first step in how to build a wine cellar. There are some areas of your property that are better suited for constructing a wine cellar. It can help you in determining the type of construction required for your cellar. It can also help you figure out what kind of cooling system will work best for you.
- The basement is the best choice since it is easier to maintain a consistent temperature and humidity, as well as being isolated from other factors like direct light and vibrations.
- A wine cellar under the stairs sounds great, but the stairs are frequently used, producing vibrations.
- Avoid insulated rooms and garages. These spaces are designed for cars, not wines, so it's best to stay away from them.
- Never build a wine cellar in an area prone to power outages or mechanical breakdowns.
You may consult with a wine cellar design specialist who can assist you in choosing components that match your style and blend in with the rest of your space.
Fundamentals of Wine Storage
Everything you need to know about properly storing your wine collection.
When it comes to properly storing and caring for your valuable wine collection, there are a few basic guidelines to follow. Before we get into the specifics, it's important to understand that these wine storage fundamentals make building a wine cellar in houses (or even in a business location) much easier and more effective.
Let’s take a look at how temperature, humidity, light exposure, vibration, and bottle position affect the aging process.
Temperature
Out of all the factors that affect the quality of wine, the temperature is the most important. In general, the ideal temperature for storing wine is around 45ºF - 65ºF (with 55ºF being the best). Anything that goes beyond that range can degrade the quality of your wine. It’s best to consult the manufacturer for temperature recommendations for specific wines.
Wine should never be kept below 25°F as this might cause it to freeze, or over 68°F as this can speed up the aging process and damage volatile compounds.
Temperature fluctuations can also deteriorate the quality of your wine and can damage the corks. So it’s very important to keep your wine cellar temperature as consistent as possible.
Humidity
Extremes in humidity in your wine cellar or wine closet can potentially lead to the degradation of your wine. Lower levels of humidity can dry out corks and crack, allowing oxygen to seep into the bottle, while higher levels of humidity can damage the corks and can cause mold to grow.
To avoid these, make sure the humidity level in your wine cellar should be between 50 and 70 percent, depending on your geographical area.
Light
Keep your wine cellar as dark as possible whether you're storing it for months, weeks, or days. The quality of wine can be affected under harsh lights.
If your wine bottles are exposed to an intense, direct light source, a chemical reaction can occur which can “cook” and alter the wine’s flavor. Wines are reactive and vulnerable to lighting, especially the light-bodied ones. So, the lighter the wine, the more care you should take when storing them.
The types of lights to avoid:
- Direct sunlight
- Electric fluorescent
- UV lighting
It’s best to keep them away from harsh lights and store them in a dark, dry place to preserve their quality. You may also safeguard wine bottles by storing them in a double-layered glass with UV protection. However, if you want to add some glow and ambiance into your wine cellar, you must pick the right type of lighting such as dimmable LED lights because they emit very little heat and can be dimmed when needed.
Vibration
Did you know that vibrations can ruin a wine’s aging process?
Vibrations can disrupt the sediments in the bottle, causing chemical reactions and disrupting the delicate process that allows wines to age well. It’s best to keep your collection away from sources of vibration, such as huge machines, noisy appliances, workout rooms, and doors.
Natural calamities such as earthquakes are uncontrollable. However, you can prevent these vibrations by padding your wine cellar and storing the bottles in sturdy wine racks to keep them safe.
Angle of Storage
If your wine bottles have corks, store them horizontally in a wine rack. Keeping wine on its side keeps the cork moist, which is important for long-term storage because a dry cork can lead to seepage and premature aging.
For ease of access and to maximize space, horizontal storage is the best and most practical solution for storing wines.
Other external factors and hazards
Other external factors to consider are security and safety standards like theft protection, fire prevention, and so on.
Recommended Cellar Construction
Certain precautions must be taken while building your cellar to ensure efficient wine cooling. If you don't do it the right way, your wine cellar might end up having so many issues. These are the following keys to keep in mind:
- Venting
- Framing the room
- Vapor barrier
- Insulation
- Doors
- Lights
- Wall covering
- Flooring
- Racking
Watch this video for tips & tricks!
Wine Cellar Cooling Units
Wine Cellar Cooling Systems have the greatest impact inside wine cellars, wine rooms, wine cellar cabinets, and other wine storage. Why? Because a wine room cooler keeps a precise wine cellar cooling and humidity level. This preserves their flavor and aroma over time, giving you and your guests a truly wonderful experience.
Important reasons to purchase a Wine Cellar Unit:
- If a wine cellar is not properly maintained, it can have major effects on the quality of the wine.
- Wine Cellar Cooling Units are used to maintain the right environment inside your wine storage.
- It aids in maintaining the ideal temperature, humidity, and even lighting conditions.
5 Main Types of Wine Cellar Cooling Unit
Let's take a look at these 5 main types of cooling units to make sure you get the right one for the size and needs of your wine cellar, and whether it is a ducted or ductless application.
Ductless Wine Cellar Cooling Units
If you have a small walk in wine cellar or space constraints within your cellar, a ductless wine room cooler is perfect for you since they do not require any duct system. This type of system can be either self-contained or split.
1.) Self-Contained Ductless Wine Cellar Cooling Units
Self-Contained Ductless Wine Cellar Cooling Systems, also known as Through-the-Wall Wine Coolers, are installed through an existing wall, similar to how air conditioners are mounted to a wall.
They usually have wine room temperature control built into the unit. So if you have a small cellar, a through the wall wine cooling unit is the best choice.
Here's an example of a self-contained ductless wine cooling system.
Product featured: WhisperKOOL SC PRO 4000 Wine Cellar Cooling Unit
2.) Ductless Split Wine Cellar Cooling Units
Ductless Split Wine Cooling Systems do not require venting, and the "split" refers to the two main components that are located in different locations. The evaporator is located inside the wine storage to draw in cold air, while the condenser is located outside to exhaust warm air. Want a noise-free wine cellar? Ductless Split Wine Refrigeration Units are the ultimate solution.
Here's an example of a ductless split wine cellar fridge.
Product featured: WhisperKOOL Platinum Split Twin Ductless Cooling System
Ducted Wine Cellar Cooling Units
Ducted wine cellar cooling units connect a cooling system to a modern wine room via ductwork. They can be ducted up to 25 feet away and are installed in a remote location.
3.) Ducted Self-Contained Wine Cellar Cooling Units
A Fully-Ducted Self Contained System can be installed up to 25 ducted feet from the cellar. Usually, the evaporator and condenser are located in the same unit, which is quite convenient. So if you don't want your wine cellar refrigeration to be visible and keep your cellar as quiet as possible, then Fully-Ducted Self-Contained wine room coolers are the way to go.
Here's an example of a fully-ducted self-contained wine cellar cooling unit.
Product featured: WhisperKOOL Phantom 5000 Fully Ducted Self-Contained System
4.) Ducted Split Wine Cellar Cooling Units
This type of wine cellar refrigeration unit provides you with complete control over the temperature and humidity levels in your cellar through ducts. This can be the most expensive wine cooling solution due to the extensive installation it requires, but it's all worth the penny.
You can have the Ducted Split Wine Cellar Cooling System installed up to 25 feet away from your cellar, providing you with the benefits of an extremely silent operation with no vibrations while also leaving more space, depending on the installation. This is perfect if you have a big, modern wine cellar.
Here's an example of a ducted split wine storage cooler.
Product featured: WhisperKOOL Platinum Split Twin Ducted Cooling System
Compact Wine Cellar Cooling Units
A compact wine refrigeration unit is a better value choice if your collection is in an enclosed space. So if you have a wine cabinet or a small wine cellar, compact residential wine cellar coolers are a smarter alternative.
5.) Cabinet Wine Cellar Cooling Units
Cabinet Wine Cellar Coolers or Wine Cabinet Coolers have a compact design and are perfect for cabinet installations. These small wine cellar cooling units are designed to accommodate wine cabinets and other constricted enclosures. Perfect if you want to create a modern wine closet.
Here's an example of a Cabinet Wine Cooler.
Product featured: Breezaire WKCE Series Cooling System Wine Fridge WKCE 2200
Best Wine Cellar Cooling Units
Investing in a high-quality wine cellar cooler ensures your wines are in their proper storage environment. We've listed the top 3 best wine cellar cooling system brands available in the market.
WhisperKOOL
What you'll love about the WhisperKOOL wine cellar cooling systems is that they are crafted with high-quality and state-of-the-art components only from the industry's biggest titans to ensure top-grade, modern, and aesthetically appealing products. Check out each WhisperKOOL collection below.
WhisperKOOL Self-Contained Wine Cellar Cooling Units
These types of cooling systems are known to be the most economical and easiest installation process. They are designed to mount between the studs of an existing wall and do not require a licensed HVACR technician for installation.
WhisperKOOL Fully Ducted Self-Contained Wine Cellar Cooling Units
This type can be positioned up to 25ft from your cellar, creating a noise-free cellar environment perfect for your wine. Each unit provides many installation options.
WhisperKOOL Ducted Split Wine Cellar Cooling Units
Compared to the self-contained units, this type gives more flexibility and installation options. Its cool air flows to the cellar while the heat exhaust is ducted to the outside of your home.
WhisperKOOL Ductless Split Wine Cellar Cooling Units
If you are looking for the most efficient installation type, this one is for you! WhisperKOOL split the condensers which are usually noisy and need a lot of space for ventilation.
Breezaire
Breezaire wine cellar cooling systems are your go-to choice if you are a wine collector or enthusiast who has a wide collection of various types of wines.
The continuous improvement and innovation of their cooling systems are what we love about this brand. Also, all Breezaire wine cellar cooling units they have today are the exact replacements for the products they built since they opened in 1985.
Features of Breezaire Wine Cellar Coolers
- Adjustable Temperature
- Automatic Humidity Control
- Vibration Control
- Ultra-Quiet Operation
- Attractive Metal Cabinet
- Ease of Installation
- Uncompromising Quality
- Breezaire Sentry III Settings
Breezaire Self-Contained Wine Cellar Cooling Units
Also, known as Through-The-Wall wine cellar cooling units.
Breezaire Ductless Split Wine Cellar Cooling Units
CellarCool
CellarCool is known for providing high-quality and innovative wine cellar cooling units at a very economical price. With over 20 years of experience, this brand has been designing and manufacturing cooling units in various installation types that can fit anyone's budget.
Why Choose CellarCool Wine Cellar Cooling Units
- High-Quality
- Innovative
- Easy-to-Use
- Budget-Friendly
CellarCool offers the following wine cellar cooling units:
- CellarCool CX Series Wine Cooling Unit CX2200
- CellarCool CX Series Wine Cooling Unit CX3300
- CellarCool CX Series Wine Cooling Unit CX4400
- CellarCool CX Series Wine Cooling Unit CX8800
Wine Racks
After you've chosen the best wine cellar cooler, you'll need to invest in a winery rack or wine rack storage.
Wine racks are the most practical and convenient way of storing and organizing your wine. Whether you have just about 10 to a thousand bottles, wine racks are a great way to keep your wine bottles safe and in the right place.
One of the nicest things about having wine storage racks is that most of them are customizable, allowing you to design and arrange your own DIY wine racks. Because of how space-saving these wine cellar racks are, it would be easier to transform even the smallest spaces into a practical and attractive wine storage.
Types of Wine Racks
There are many different types of wine racks, but the most typical ones you've seen include:
Wall Mounted Wine Rack
This is the most common type of wine bottle rack. You can show off your wine bottle collection while saving space. Wine racks for wall appear sleek and modern, perfect for showing off your best collection!
Countertop Wine Rack
They are usually small wine racks that perfectly fit countertops. A functional and stylish way to store your wine bottles. Some countertop wine racks come with a wine glass rack to hold both bottle and wine glass. If you have a few wine bottles, this is the ideal type of wine rack.
Cabinet Wine Rack
A wine rack cabinet or wine cabinet rack is a furniture-style piece, a wine racks & cabinets combination that has many of the same characteristics as a wine cellar.
Corner Wine Rack
If you have a corner of your cellar that feels a little empty, this is the wine rack for you! A stylish way to store wine that also makes the most of the available space.
Floor Wine Rack
This type of wine rack is also called a freestanding or standing wine rack. It's pretty much self-explanatory, it's a wine rack that sits on the floor and holds your wine bottles.
Pallet Wine Rack
Here's another one-of-a-kind type of wine rack. The wine bottles are held in place by the necks in a pallet wine rack. Some of these wine racks come with a hanging wine glass rack.
Wooden Wine Rack
Wooden wine racks, also known as wine wood racks, are the most popular wine storage material because of how easy it is to use and obtain. Many wine racks wood include: Redwood, Mahogany, Pine, Red Oak, Cedar, and Fir.
Metal Wine Rack
Another popular choice for wine racks! Metal wine racks tend to have more variation than wood pieces, despite the fact that they are more difficult to deal with. Metal allows for more fluid and flowing shapes, which are impossible to achieve with wood. Wine rack metals can be painted to complement any type of decor.
Ultra Wine Racks & Cellars
Introducing Ultra Wine Racks & Cellars!
They offer modern and one of a kind wine racking systems. Whether you are a wine collector, a cellar builder, or simply enjoy drinking wine casually, these wine racks will inspire you to create unique themes for wine cellars, rooms, cabinets, and walls.
They are well known for having high-quality and remarkable features:
- PRECISION METAL: Professionally crafted and made out of the finest precision metal for a consistent appearance.
- BEAUTIFUL FINISH: The beautiful, matte finish coating gives it a luxurious feel.
- EASY TO INSTALL: Simple installation instructions are provided in both written and video versions.
- CUSTOMIZABLE: Create your own style using a variety of options.
Here are some of the greatest collections of Ultra Wine Racks & Cellars available.
Wine Pegs
The Ultra Wine Pegs transform your wall art into a fine wine design. An attractive and modern alternative to the classic wood racking. Wine collectors use these pegs to display their most valuable and beautiful bottles.
Wine Rack Pins:
- Single
- Double
- Triple
- Color Finish
- Sarin and Brushed Aluminum
- Black
Ultra Wine Pegs come in 2 types:
1) Ultra HZ Wine Pegs
HZ Wine Pegs are perfect for anyone who wants to show off their wine collection rather than just store it. Bottles are held in a horizontal, label-out arrangement by these metal wine rack pegs. This lets you see the labels on your bottles without having to pick up, handle, or disturb them.
2) Ultra ST Wine Pegs
ST Wine Pegs, which come in XL and standard sizes, combine classic wine storage arrangements with a sleek, modern aesthetic. This is the perfect solution if you have limited wall space, as these wine rack pegs hold wine bottles in a cork-out configuration, allowing you to store more.
Wall Rails
The Ultra Wall Rails series is where precision and technology meet luxury design. These modern wall rails are available in two options, which help organize and design residential and commercial wine storage. Ultra Wall Rails are the ultimate choice for easy DIY, more storage space, and flexible design possibilities.
1) Ultra HZ Wall Rails
The Ultra HZ Wall Rails are ideal for those who want to display their wine collection and not just store it. These metal wall wine rails emphasize your wine labels. Any wine display would look elegant and modern thanks to the simple design profile and robust metal structure.
The Ultra HZ Label Out Wall Rails are equipped with durable pegs and recycled rubber O-rings that securely hold your bottles in place. Depending on your storage requirements, you can choose from three depth configurations: Single Deep, Double Deep, and Triple Deep
2) Ultra ST Wall Rails
Ultra ST Wall Rails are great for those who want to maximize their wine storage space since it holds bottles in a cork out configuration. This type of wine rack is likely to attract the attention of your wine-loving guests and entice them into your unique wall wine display.
For a sleek, minimalist design, the Ultra ST Cork Out Wall Rails are equipped with sturdy pegs. Rails also come with connectors that can be used to combine them together.
Display Row
A new approach to storing and displaying your favorite wines. It can be mounted in a variety of ways. The Display Row may be attached to a variety of surfaces, with various mounting positions deliberately arranged to keep your wine collection safe, secure, and elegant. Display rows can be combined with HZ Wall Rails or Floor-to-Ceiling wine storage systems for a complete look.
Any space is orderly and aesthetically beautiful with a modern, streamlined design. The Display Row was created to keep your treasured wine bottles safe while presenting them at the ideal viewing angle. The ideal storage system for storing a few bottles or creating their own wine design.
Available in 2 choices:
1) 3FT Display Row
The Ultra Wine Racks 3FT Display Row supports 12 Bottles
2) 4FT Display Row
The Ultra Wine Racks 4FT Display Row supports 16 Bottles
Fusion Panels
Ultra Fusion Panels can turn your house into an Ultra Home. These panels allow you to bring your wines out of the cellar and into your house, where they can be seen and admired by your family and guests, plus they’re easily reachable! You can install them in your living room, kitchen, dining room, man cave, basement bar, or any other room in your home to show off your wines.
It has removable Faceplates that make installation and changing panel colors a breeze. The best thing about Fusion panels is that they're an iterative design: which means you can start with only one and work your way up to creating your own one-of-a-kind wine display.
You can pick your combination of cork-out, label-out, color, and depth of wall mounted wine rack panels you chose:
1) Ultra HZ Label Out Fusion Panel
The Ultra HZ Label Out Fusion Panel is a modern wine rack for wall. These panels make it easy and enjoyable to create a unique wine display because they’re easy to set up and customize. It's fun to mix and match faceplate colors, allowing you to create endless design combinations. The only limit is your imagination.
The HZ Label Out Fusion Panel was created with the goal of maximizing the display of wine labels. This type of configuration brightens up any room or living space.
2) Ultra ST Cork Out Fusion Panel
Ultra Fusion cork-out panels are sleek, space-saving wall wine racks. Fusion cork-out panels have you covered if you want to keep a few of your favorite bottles within easy reach. They're easy to set up and can be configured in any way you choose. Even with limited wall space, you can also easily swap out faceplates to make your own unique bottle arrangements.
3 Colors Available:
- Black
- Dark Stain
- Alumasteel
Faceplates
For a totally new display, you can purchase Faceplates for your Fusion Panels. So, if you want to change out the faceplates you ordered with your Fusion panels, you can simply swap them out and there is no need to reinstall the entire panel.
You can choose faceplates from 3 different materials to really make your display stand out:
- Alumasteel
- Black Acrylic
- Dark Stained
Fusion Wine Walls
The Fusion Wine Wall was designed to lessen the time it takes to install huge custom wine wall panels and the expenditures that come with them. A nicely spaced section on the reverse of the recessed faceplate is ready to be illuminated with LED lighting. If you want LED lighting on your display, go with the recessed option.
Wine Rack Pins:
- Single Deep
- Double Deep
- Triple Deep
Color Finish Available:
- Black
- Dark Stain
- Alumasteel
This Fusion Wine Wall comes in two types:
- HZ Label Out Wine Wall
- ST Cork Out Wine Wall
The Fusion ST Cork Out Wine Wall maximizes storage space, while the Fusion HZ Label Out Wine Wall highlights your labels.
Wine Rack Ideas
Here's an added bonus. If you're looking for ideas on how to store your wine collection aesthetically, we've put together a list of creative ways to do it.
Wine Wall Rack
Your wine collection deserves to be displayed in style, and there's no better way to do so than by creating a wine rack wall! We'll show you how to showcase your favorite bottles on wall mounted wine racks or a wine rack shelf.
Wine Rack Wall Art
Wall of Wine
Floor-to-Ceiling
Take modern wine storage to new heights with the floor-to-ceiling wine racking system. It’s an absolute must-have addition to showcase your collection in a sophisticated, modern and organized manner.
Did you know that Ultra Wine Racks offers floor-to-ceiling wine racks? Check them out here: Floor-to-Ceiling by Ultra Wine Racks
Built-In Wine Storage
A built-in wine storage unit is the best if you want to save up more floor space, plus they can be installed into cabinetry – closet, counters, kitchen islands, and shelves. It can also come in different shapes and sizes, depending on where you want to install it.
An example of a built-in wine storage is a wine cabinet or wine closet.
Wine Closet
Under the Stairs
If you have an unused space beneath your elegant staircase in your home and wanted to maximize it, you can transform it into a custom wine cellar.
Wine bottle storage under the stairs is a clever idea that doesn't take up any floor space, plus it can elevate your home’s aesthetics. Yes, you can construct the ultimate wine cellar design just beneath your stairs by using wall-mounted wine racks and a glass enclosure for a timeless glass wine cellar appeal. Not only can you safely store and age your wines in wine cellars under the stairs, but they also add a refined touch to any home and immediately become its focal point!
Wine Cellar Cooling Unit and Wine Rack for Sale
Wine Coolers Empire is the best place for wine cellar cooling units, wine storage units, wine rack holders, and wine racks for sale. We have been selling high-quality wine cellaring and wine racking systems for years now with customers in almost all 50 states. Whether you are looking for a large-scale unit or just a really compact wine cooler, we have what you need.
Wine Cellar Cooling Units
Wine Cellar Cooling System Brands
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Wine Coolers
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- Built-in Wine Coolers
- Under Counter Wine Coolers
- Side by Side Wine Coolers
- Single Zone Wine Coolers
- Dual Zone Wine Coolers
- Multi Zone Wine Coolers
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Wine Racks
Ultra Wine Racks Collection
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