Materials for Building a Wine Cellar
Keeping wine in the best surrounding conditions is paramount to its aging. A wine cellar is a common way of controlling an aging wine's surroundings to ensure proper maturation. Hence, the materials used for both the construction and maintenance of a wine cellar are crucial. Does this Spark an idea?
Location
Wines typically age better in cold, damp areas, so the prime location for a wine cellar would be a basement or any level below ground.
Structure
Because wine prefers damp areas, it is advisable not to use wood as the primary structural material, as it may rot. Wood is typically used for support and is specially treated to reduce the risk of rotting. The most common structural material used for a wine cellar is either brick or concrete, as both can withhold moisture better and provide little to no insulation, keeping the cellar cold for the wine.
Function
Inside a wine cellar, wine should not simply be stacked. Wine is stored on its side to keep the cork moist to prevent it from drying out and cracking. For this reason, wine racks are a typical sight in a wine cellar. It is not important of what type of material the rack is made, just that it rests the wine on its side instead of sitting straight up.
Variations
Some wine racks are designed to recline the top of the bottle lower than its body. This is typically designed for sparkling wines, since they undergo multiple fermentation cycles and the decline of the top of the bottle allows the yeast to settle in the neck of the bottle so another round of fermentation can be initiated. It is okay, however, to store non-sparkling wine on these types of racks, although decanting wines stored in this fashion is advisable.
Upgrades
Some wine enthusiasts will prefer to install temperature controllers in their wine cellars to maintain more control over the temperature of their wine (ensuring some types of wine do not spoil due to too-high or too-low temperatures). These are not a necessity, since the subterranean location and nature of the brick or concrete should ensure a low enough temperature. However, if the wine cellar is built in a specifically hot or cold region where the temperature of the wine cellar cannot be maintained at advisable temperatures for both red and white wines, then a temperature control device is one solution.
Tags: wine cellar, wine cellar, aging wine, brick concrete, Building Wine, Building Wine Cellar
