A wine cellar is not a magic wand that will always create the most perfect wine for you. The construction and attention to detail that goes into a wine cellar is almost as important as the attention and detail that goes into the making of the wine itself. Wine lovers must also keep in mind that certain wines are not meant to be kept very long and sticking them in even the most carefully constructed wine cellar will result in a bad wine. However, for those who are serious about their wines and would like to have an appropriate storage area for the appropriate wines, then a home wine cellar is a great option.
Many people consider wine a living breathing thing, and like any living things it will go through stages from infancy to maturity and then old age. Many wine reach maturity quickly, but others are what we call heartier, and therefore need decade or two for each aspect of the wine to reach a harmonious place. You can enjoy a wine that has been opened a little too soon, but you will always know that had you waited the wine could have really been something special.
So in order to give your wine the advantage it needs in order to reach perfection, a home wine cellar is the best option. You may be thinking why can the grocery stores sell wine that has gone straight from the manufacturer to the store? Well most of the wines you will buy in a grocery store was designed and crafted for early consumption. Many of the fruits that these wines were crafted from are intended to be consumed within two or three years.
As you advance in your wine collecting abilities you will learn more about which wines are intended for early consumption and which wines need a great home wine cellar in order to reach perfection.
Wine cellar design can be quite simple or quite elaborate depending on your taste and budget. You could simply throw a twelve bottle pine rack in a corner of your kitchen or pantry and technically call it your wine cellar because that is where you are storing your wine. However, there are certain guidelines to creating a true wine cellar.
A wine cellar needs to be able to maintain specific wine cellar temperature. The perfect temperature for wine storage is actually a constant 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Because most of your home will not be the temperature year round, it becomes imperative that an alternative room or structure be constructed for the specific purpose of wine storage. Temperatures lower than 55 degrees will send the wine into dormancy, while higher temperatures will actually bake the wine.
In order to construct the perfect wine cellar you will need an insulated room with its own built in air conditioner. This will ensure a specific and consistent temperature year round. You must avoid temperature fluctuations as this will cause oxidation to the wine.
If you already have a basement then you have the first step toward a great wine cellar ideas. The temperatures in a basement will almost always be cooler than temperatures upstairs. This is because the ground which is surrounding the basement walls creates its own insulation and cooling abilities.
Hiring a contractor to construct the type of room you need for your wine cellar or renovating an existing room in order to serve as a wine cellar is also a great option. Many people find this to be the simplest way to ensure they protect their wine investment.
The perfect wine cellar is a pretty in depth project once you start considering the necessary conditions for insulation, temperature maintenance and wine cellar racks. Many contractors deal specifically in wine cellar construction, and many regular home contractors are experienced with wine cellar construction. A good contractor will listen to your ideas concerning your wine cellar creation and will mix that with their own professional experience to create the wine cellar of your dreams.
Deciding on a specific area of your home for your new wine cellar construction is an important first step. If you do not already have a basement handy, adding a basement to your home for multiple purposes can be a great way to increase the value of your home, increase the livable space in your home and add a wine cellar storage area at your home.
A regular contractor can help you achieve these multiple purposes. Many families find that adding a basement to their home can increase the standard of living for their family, as it provides additional space for hobbies, games and family time.
Wine collecting can be a great hobby, but if everyone in your family does not share your particular hobby, then a family basement construction project is a great way to make room for your wine collecting hobby and include the rest of the family as well. In many cases, other family members will be more tolerate of your investment when they feel like the investment will benefit them as well. A family basement with a special area designated for wine cellar storage is a wonderful way to meet all of these goals and help keep everyone happy.
