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