| In this "how-to" on wine cellar construction, I'd like | | | | The third how-to to consider in wine cellar design |
| to shed some light on what many find to be quite | | | | is the flooring. You must never lay carpeting or |
| devastatingly destructive pitfalls in the end results, | | | | rugs of any kind because these attract and retain |
| and indeed, even during the construction of, their | | | | moisture quite considerably, and this then |
| wine cellars. To make wine cellar structures, things | | | | becomes a fertile breeding ground for mold. This |
| need not be quite so complicated, but it is in the | | | | in turn can eat into the wood, and ultimately kill |
| simplicity of these small few things that cause | | | | the wine - all of it. This can represent quite a |
| them to be quite easily overlooked, and the | | | | ruination of such a delicate long term investment. |
| consequences can be quite costly to your home, | | | | Consider also that many people are deadly allergic |
| your wine cellar, your wine, and indeed, even your | | | | to such molds, and most are so to a somewhat |
| health and that of others. When you understand | | | | less deadly degree. It can prove to be quite a |
| how to make wine cellar structures properly, you | | | | health hazard indeed. |
| can avoid all of this. Allow me to explain... | | | | The fourth how-to in wine cellar design is, well, in |
| The first how-to in wine cellar design that should | | | | its very design. Especially if you not only buy |
| be focused upon here, is dampness - the | | | | wines to age, but if you also (or primarily) make |
| moisture that results in cooling things which are | | | | your own wines. Very young wines (or those |
| not yet cool, that contains liquids, and the | | | | newly made), should stand upright for a time and |
| dampness from condensation which naturally | | | | then after be laid upon their side for proper aging. |
| occurs in a cellar. Whether you use passive | | | | This has much to do with how any sediment |
| refrigeration (the general coldness of a cellar), or | | | | within the wine affects the wine as a whole while |
| active refrigeration (using electrical refrigeration | | | | aging. Create enough counter top and/or shelf |
| elements), this needs to be addressed. Using | | | | space to allow for this, and build wine cellar |
| water resistant sheet rock ("green board") and | | | | structures to allow for easy rotation of wines as |
| plastic sheeting for a vapor barrier is a must. The | | | | aging progresses. |
| floor, walls and ceiling, as well as the structure of | | | | The fifth and final how-to wine cellar point to |
| the wine racks themselves must be protected | | | | make here is insulation of the door (or floor |
| against irreparable damage. | | | | hatch) of the entry into the wine cellar. Ideally, |
| The second how-to for wine cellar building is on | | | | you should be able to feel the coldness of the |
| the woods you use in its construction. Firm and | | | | cellar on the inner surface of the door while also |
| solid woods like oaks and maples are nice, but | | | | being able to feel the warmth of the outer room |
| moisture damage resistant woods such as teak | | | | on the opposing surface of the door without any |
| or purpleheart are best, due to their high silica | | | | interference between each other. A simple |
| content. However, also due to this very same | | | | wooden door is not enough. Some simplify the |
| thing, it can be frustrating to work with these | | | | solution to this by having two doors with the |
| woods as the silica eats through blades rather | | | | space of a person standing between them apart, |
| quickly. Redwood seems to be a very common | | | | and some opt to purchase a specially insulated |
| happy medium. Whichever woods you choose | | | | door constructed for just such a purpose. |
| from, never use aromatic woods such as cedars | | | | However you choose to attack this problem, this |
| - the aroma of these will indeed taint your wines, | | | | is again another easily overlooked aspect. See to |
| no matter how tightly corked. | | | | it that it is not overlooked. |