| We all know that wine needs to be cellared correctly | | | | the right type of material. This allows the cellar |
| so that it matures as the winemaker intended. The | | | | conditioner to function efficiently, therefore reducing the |
| problem is that many cellars are built without the | | | | amount of energy used. Insulating is easy and |
| proper insulation, equipment or technical knowledge | | | | inexpensive if installed at the beginning of construction, |
| needed to do the job properly. | | | | but can be very costly if it has to be corrected or |
| So, what are the biggest mistakes people make when | | | | added later. |
| building a cellar? | | | | Mistake number 4 - Poor choice of door |
| Mistake number 1 - Assuming underground cellars will | | | | Another common mistake is when the cellar door is |
| be cool all year round | | | | chosen simply for its aesthetic appeal. The cellar door |
| The mere mention of an underground wine cellar | | | | needs to be technically correct and made of the |
| conjures up images of the wine 'caves' of Europe. | | | | proper material to provide an air tight seal and good |
| These traditional cellars are fully subterranean and are | | | | insulation; otherwise all the good work is lost. In saying |
| often meters under the earth. This is not the case with | | | | this, the door should also be in keeping with the total |
| most modern underground cellars. | | | | look of the cellar and it is quite tricky to get all this right. |
| Many people assume that underground cellars are | | | | Mistake number 5 - Poor Wine Racking |
| naturally cool. In reality, the opposite is often true. In | | | | A lot of people spend a lot of money on racking that |
| summer, and especially if the the cellar has a concrete | | | | looks great but it doesn't function properly, isn't user |
| ceiling, these spaces can become 'hot boxes' and the | | | | friendly and doesn't take a wine collector's changing |
| result is cooked wine. These cellars then become | | | | needs into consideration. As a result, people become |
| cooler in the winter months, and it is this variation in | | | | quite frustrated with their cellar. |
| temperature that is detrimental to wine. | | | | Wine racking needs to have the right mix of storage |
| Mistake number 2 - Not using correct/any climate | | | | solutions that cater to different bottle and case sizes |
| control equipment | | | | as well as current and future wine buying styles. There |
| Installing a conventional air conditioner in your cellar is a | | | | are a myriad of wine racks available at various price |
| major mistake. Air conditioners won't consistently keep | | | | points but there is a lot more to it than initially meets |
| the temperature low enough and they don't even | | | | the eye. Getting the balance right between the |
| address humidity issues. Ideal cellaring temperature for | | | | appearance of the racking, convenience, space |
| all wine is 14 degrees, plus or minus one degree, whilst | | | | optimisation and budget is one of the key challenges |
| humidity needs to be between 65% and 75%. If air | | | | when faced with selecting wine racking and you need |
| humidity is too low, this inevitably leads to corks drying | | | | to deal with someone who carries a broad range so |
| out, letting in air and oxidising the wine. If air humidity is | | | | that all these issues can be addressed. |
| too high, you get label mould. Needless to say, storing | | | | Other considerations |
| wine in a cellar without any type of climate control | | | | There are other important issues such as wine friendly |
| equipment comes at a great risk. | | | | lighting, appropriate flooring, adequate airflow and |
| The solution here is to install proper climate controlled | | | | ventilation, flood prevention, and other technical aspects |
| equipment like a cellar conditioner that can maintain the | | | | but we've covered the top 5 above. The solution here |
| low temperature and high humidity required to cellar | | | | is to get professional advice on your wine cellar. If you |
| wine correctly. | | | | engage a professional early on in the project, you'll |
| Mistake number 3 - Not insulating your cellar correctly | | | | overcome a lot of problems and have the dream |
| Too often cellars are poorly insulated, or simply aren't | | | | cellar you've always wanted. |
| insulated at all. A cellar must be properly insulated with | | | | |