| Congratulations on your move from wine lover | | | | on the ability to keep temperature |
| to wine connoisseur. If you are planning to | | | | constant.The first stem in starting to build |
| buy a wine cellar this guide will give you | | | | your wine cellar is building the frame. You |
| some information on buying the perfect wine | | | | need to frame the outer walls of the basement |
| cellar equipment.1. StorageBottles should be | | | | with 2" x 6" studs . Then you will need to |
| stored on their side so that the cork remains | | | | insulate so that you can keep the room a |
| moist and they should also not be exposed to | | | | constant temperature. Don't forget your door |
| vibration or temperature change. It should | | | | is going to have to seal tightly so you will |
| be maintained at a constant 50 to 55 degrees | | | | need to weather strip it. The drywall you |
| with a humidity rate of 70%.2. SizeSize | | | | use should be resistant to moisture.Start |
| matters and if you choose to buy a larger | | | | thinking about the design of your racks |
| wine cellar you need to make sure the unit | | | | before you actually begin construction. |
| will fit. Consider the space you have to | | | | Decide what type of racks you want and what |
| work with, the size and weight of the unit | | | | material you want to build them out of. Have |
| and make sure to add the additional weight | | | | a look at existing pre-fab racks to get some |
| for the wine which averages about 3 pounds | | | | ideas.You will also need to invest in a wine |
| per bottle.3. TypesThere are different types | | | | cellar cooling unit so that you can maintain |
| of wine cellars. If you live in a house | | | | the correct temperature and humidity. A |
| where you have a spare room that you can turn | | | | cooling unit is very similar to an air |
| into a wine cellar you are very lucky. Don't | | | | conditioning unit. Your wine should be |
| skimp and make sure it will hold at least 500 | | | | maintained at around 50 degrees and the |
| bottles of wine. Build it well so that the | | | | humidity should be around 70%.There is a |
| bottles don't come crashing down. That would | | | | great deal of wine cellar equipment available |
| be a real shame.For many of us we don't have | | | | on the market so whether you build from |
| that extra space. Not to worry you can buy a | | | | scratch or buy pre-fab you've got plenty of |
| free standing wine cellar which can be placed | | | | options.April used to be a bartender with |
| in a house or even an apartment. They are | | | | over 7 years of experience. She later retired |
| available in many different sizes so no | | | | to become a freelance wine critic and a |
| matter what your space limitations you will | | | | writer for a number of wine books. In these |
| be able to find one that will work.4. Build | | | | books, she specializes on finding the right |
| ItIf you decide to build your own wine cellar | | | | glassware and utensils for your bar. Visit |
| remember that north walls are best because | | | | for a list of "must haves" such as plastic |
| they get the least amount of light. You can | | | | |
| use the first floor of your house, a garage, | | | | barware for your bar. |
| or in some cases even a crawl space depending | | | | |