WINE CELLARS: A WISE CHOICE FOR WINE COLLECTORS

For wine collectors, wine is among their highly prized possessions. Wine gives a fine touch of luxury to their lives. As much as they want to store wines in high hopes of longer shelf life, these are perishable products. Therefore, practicing wine preservation is necessary to keep their wine’s perfect maturation and quality. The concept of the custom wine cellar, a storage area for wine bottles and barrels, comes into the picture.

Wine Cellars 101: How Does it Become a Wise Choice for Wine Collectors?

For someone who treats wine as collectibles, a wine cellar is an ideal investment inside their home.  Wine preservation dates back to the ancient practice of storing wines under caves in Europe since the area gives a suitable condition for the aging of wine. Thanks to technological advancement, wine cellars with enhanced cooling solutions are now invented and designed.

PRESERVING PURPOSE FOR A BETTER CAUSE

For wine enthusiasts who know the basics about wines and wine cellars, are they considered worthwhile investments? Let’s ponder the benefits of having wine cellars inside your home.

1. 

   Wine Cellars 101: Collections of Good Wines Can Be a Homeowner’s Pride

   A PERFECT CHOICE TO MATCH YOUR HOME DÉCOR

Having a well-curated wine cellar entices positive vibes in your home. One great thing about having a wine cellar is that it shows off your wine collection. Taking your loved ones for a quick tour of your wine cellar while popping the wine of your choice is a great way to spend leisure time with them. With your wine cellar where labels of good wines are shown off and bottles are arranged accordingly, it is something that can be your sense of pride.

2. FOR SAVORING THE SWEETNESS AND QUALITY OF WINES

Some wines increase in value over time. Wine cellars help wines to preserve and mature perfectly. You can reserve the wine of your choice for special occasions by having wine cellars with accurate refrigeration systems. With the wine cellar protecting your wines, you can sit back and enjoy your life.

3. FOR SAFETY PURPOSES

Keeping the wine bottles in proper condition is a must. That is why having a wine cellar protects your collections from harm. A properly built wine cellar can keep alcohol out of the kid’s reach. Having a central storage for wines by having a wine cellar should be considered.

Aside from that, when you store wines in places prone to vibrations like earthquakes, their quality reduces in an approximate span of 18 months. The benefit of a wine cellar is that it can be stored to keep the wines safe and retain their qualities intact.

Wine Cellars 101: Centralizes Your Wine Collections

4. FOR SAVING SPACE AND ORGANIZATION

The wine cellar helps you save space and centralize all your collections into one place. You are also free to customize the design in consideration of the suitable

conditions. This time, you can let your creative and organizational skills unleash. By having an organized collection, it is easy to access your choice of wine and saves your time as well.

5. AN IDEAL AND INCOME-GENERATING INVESTMENT

A home décor with a wine collection adds quality and luxury to your home, therefore wine cellars add value to the entirety of your lifestyle. It is a property investment that can potentially attract real estate investors in the future. One day, if you plan to put your house on sale, a wine collector may be willing to pay handsomely in exchange for convenience for a built-in wine cellar. Or even if you do not sell it, it is still a precious investment for the future generation of your family.

SUGGESTED CORNERS TO PLACE WINE CELLARS INSIDE THE HOUSE

With your imagination partnered with professional designers and contractors, you can enjoy your wine collections in your existing space inside your home. These are the ideal locations to be considered to put wine cellars.

1. IN THE BASEMENT

The basement is an ideal place to build a wine cellar. You will have fewer worries if you consider this option. 11It has the natural quality of cool, dark and humid – an ideal spot and condition for preserving wines. You can also enjoy the privacy and chill vibes that it brings as you savor your drink.

Wine Cellars 101: The Ideal Placements to Your Home

2. UNUSED BROOM OR COAT CLOSET

Planning the right cooling system can work well as you let your wine age gracefully. You may consider a vacant space like a closet as a good spot for putting a wine cellar.

3. IN THE LIVING ROOM

As you welcome guests, you can show your featured collection of wines instantly by putting   your wine cellar in it. You may want to design it through a glass wall to make it aesthetically pleasing.

4. UNUSED GUESTROOM

If you have a large collection of wines, you may consider putting a wine cellar in your unused guestroom. You can transform this extra space into something that you love doing – designing and collecting wines.

5. UNDER THE STAIRS

You can save space and cost by putting the wine cellar under the stairs. This compartment can also provide humid, dark, and cool conditions since it is beneath the stairs.

6. IN THE DINING AREA

You can place your wine cellar in the dining area. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, you can easily access the wine after a meal time by storing it near you.

Some modern wine cellar projects built by Steve’s team are glass-enclosed wine cellars in Orange County, these stunning showpieces give glam to the whole home interior!

BASIC TIPS TO MAINTAIN A WELL-CURATED WINE CELLAR

Installing a wine cellar is responsible for keeping them functional for a long period. These are some of the things to keep in mind:

1. CHECK THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AND VENTILATION REGULARLY
   

   A Stable Temperature of Wine Cellar Prevents the Wine from Spoiling

Always monitor your wine cellar’s recommended minimum and maximum temperature levels. Besides preserving quality, having a stable cooling system also prevents the wine from spoiling. Wine is prone to spoiling when it is exposed to excessive heat or unstable temperature.

When humidity is increased, the cork may be oxidized and damaged. The wine cellar is very useful for this cause. The ideal temperature of storage is 55°F or slightly cooler than that.

The temperature greatly impacts the longevity and efficiency of wine cellars. Keep your location cooler especially when the summer season is approaching.

2. MAINTAIN THE SEAL AND CELLAR DOORS

Make sure that the seal is kept tight and clean your cellar doors with clean water and cloth to prevent discoloration. Always remember to check these for safety purposes.

3. CLEAN THE DRIP TRAYS AND CHANGE THE FILTER REGULARLY.

When a wine cellar is installed, it usually comes with a filter. The filtration and aeration system cleans the air inside your wine cellar. It gives continuous air renewal to remove any ambient odor which can potentially harm the bottle corks and, therefore, the wine. Maintaining these should come with a proper procedure, a good step for this is to hire a maintenance plan to assure everything is working well with your wine cellar.

4. CLEAN THE CONDENSING COILS AND FANS REGULARLY

Wipe your coils regularly to avoid coil damage since condensing coils reject the heat created during refrigeration. Include your walls, floor and ceiling in the cleaning process to prevent any moisture that building up. You may clean it with warm water and mild soap. The purpose of this is to maintain humidity between 50-75% for long-term storage so the corks do not dry out.

5. WATCH OUT FOR MOLDS AND MILDEW

Keep an eye out for molds and mildew as they may affect the cork, therefore the quality of the wine. Keep the place humid but always check the environment for potential mold build-up.

6. KEEP THE INTERIOR OF THE CELLAR CLEAN

Clean the walls and shelves by using warm water, a soft cloth, and white vinegar. Let them dry before putting back the wines inside the cabinet. If your cabinet has internal drain holes through which condensate water from the evaporator operates, this hole must be also cleaned. You may add a few drops of disinfectant to some water and flush the hole then clean with a pipe cleaner – never use a sharp or pointed instrument.

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  Wine Cellars 101: Re-organize Your Wine Bottles If Needed

  7. RE-ORGANIZE YOUR WINE BOTTLES IF NEEDED

As you are doing housekeeping for your wine cellar, you may also re-assess and consider making new arrangements for your wines. You can also take a record of wine bottles based on their longevity or preference to easily get them when needed. As you fill in the task of organizing your wine bottles at your home cellar, you will also be reminded of each type of wine that you have collected in the past. What a way to reminisce!

Truly, owning a wine cellar inside the house is a good investment for anyone interested in drinking and collecting different brands of wine. Climate-controlled wine cellars ensure that your wines are always stored in the perfect conditions for maturation. Hence, if we want our wines to be in good condition and age gracefully, we must regularly maintain our wine cellars for them to provide us with the quality service that we need. Hiring a maintenance plan for your wine cellar is a very good approach and we are one call away from your doorstep to help you ease your worries!