| Building a wine cellar can create the ideal environment | | | | Similarly, home air conditioning provides a poor |
| to store your wines. Temperature is always a major | | | | environment for aging your wines, as it removes the |
| consideration in wine storage and the ideal wine | | | | humidity from the air which can lead to corks drying |
| storage temperature is between 55ºF and 58ºF | | | | out. Additionally, if air conditioning is only turned on at |
| (13ºC-15ºC), although any temperature between | | | | certain times during the day then the wine will become |
| 40º-65ºF (5º-18ºC) will suffice as long as it | | | | subject to wide temperature fluctuations, which will |
| doesn't fluctuate too much. Ideally, the humidity should | | | | inevitably cause irreparable damage to your wine. |
| be around 70%. If you can't achieve these | | | | To properly cool and humidify a cellar you will need a |
| temperatures in your passive wine cellar then you may | | | | cooling system designed specifically for cooling a wine |
| require a wine cellar cooling unit. | | | | cellar. |
| A standard home refrigerator makes a poor wine | | | | Wine cellar cooling units can be set at any |
| cooling solution for several reasons. It is designed | | | | temperature within the optimum range for successfully |
| specifically to store and look after food products, not | | | | aging wines and they cool the air slowly and gently. |
| to store wines. An atmosphere that works well for | | | | They are designed to maintain humidity rather than |
| meat and vegetables is far too cold and dry for your | | | | dehydrating the cellar although sometimes additional |
| expensive wine. The preferred temperature for home | | | | humidification may be required in extremely dry |
| refrigeration is somewhere between 35ºF and | | | | climates. This type of wine cellar cooling unit is usually |
| 38ºF (1.7 to 3.3ºC) | | | | installed approximately 18 inches from the top of the |
| Home - or even commercial - refrigeration equipment | | | | room in order to achieve maximum cooling. The unit will |
| is built to cool food quickly to prevent it spoiling. This is | | | | also require an unobstructed airflow and adequate |
| achieved by blasting cold air until the desired | | | | ventilation to dissipate the heat generated by the unit. |
| temperature is reached. Then a cycle kicks in | | | | It is also possible to install a split air system into a wine |
| whereby once the set temperature is reached, the | | | | cellar although these units can be very expensive with |
| refrigerator shuts off. When the temperature rises to a | | | | prices running into many thousands of dollars. |
| pre-determined point, cold air is again blasted. This | | | | A split air system is installed outside the wine cellar and |
| continuous fluctuating temperature cycle isn't good for | | | | the supply and return air is ducted to and from the |
| your wines. | | | | wine cellar. This wine cellar refrigeration system works |
| Standard refrigeration equipment is designed not only | | | | like a central air-conditioning system and is similarly |
| to cool but also to remove moisture. Wine gives off | | | | quiet. This system would usually include electronic |
| neither heat nor moisture so you end up with an | | | | controls and a digital display. There are many options |
| environment that's way too dry for wine. This will | | | | available with split system cooling including humidifiers, |
| cause wine corks to shrink, which will allow air to get in. | | | | dehumidifiers and alarm units. With the addition of the |
| Once the air is in contact with your wine the | | | | options, a split air system will provide you with total |
| irreversible process of oxidation begins and your wine | | | | control of your wine cellar refrigeration, albeit at a large |
| is ruined! | | | | cost. |
| Vibration can also be an issue with a home | | | | If you find that your wine cellar requires a cooling unit it |
| refrigerator. Wine requires a calm vibration-free | | | | is worthwhile shopping around and comparing brands. |
| environment in which to develop so any vibration will | | | | There are few bargains, however, you should be able |
| eventually destroy a fine wine. | | | | to save money with a little research. |