A friend offered to help out while I am away in Israel and composed a post about building a wine cellar.  A worthwhile read that I hope you enjoy…

How to Build the Perfect Wine Cellar

If you are passionate about wine, then you have no doubt contemplated building your own wine cellar at one point. Having your own beautiful wine cellar to safely house your collection can be a practical and rewarding project. Not only are wine cellars stylish, but they can also add to the property value of your home itself. Many potential home owners’ eyes light up upon seeing that the house they are considering comes equipped with its own wine cellar. But who are we kidding? If you plan on building your own wine cellar, then you’re not doing for someone else, you’re doing it because you have a passion for wine. Whether you are a connoisseur of wine or simply enjoy a bottle with dinner, building your own wine cellar is easier than you think.

The most important aspects of a wine cellar are the wine racks. You can either purchase racks from a home goods store or you can choose to build them yourself. Depending on the size of your collection, you may want to start small, while still leaving yourself room to expand upon later. There are even wine racks on the market that allow you to add on more storage pieces as your collection grows. No matter what type of rack you decide upon, take special care to make sure it is sturdy and properly installed. Not only is your collection valuable, but it is also quite fragile. The last thing you want is to descend your stairs to your cellar only to find your wine pooling on the ground.

Wine is a very temperamental and special care is needed to insure that it is stored properly. For starters, natural light will damage your wine over time. It is vital that you store your wine in an area that is dark and will not be exposed to light for extended periods of time. You should also take care to make sure that your cellar is not too humid, as this can damage the corks in your bottles and cause cork rot, which with ruin your wine. Use a dehumidifier if need be to keep your wine cellar somewhere between 60 – 70% humidity.

Lastly, your wine needs to be stored at a specific temperature in order to thrive. Depending on the region in which you reside, this may prove more difficult. Wine needs to be stored in an area that is between 7 – 18 degrees Celsius. Any wines you own that are maturing should be stored at a slightly lower temperature. If your cellar is too hot or too cold then your wine will not age properly and some of the delicate flavors may be lost forever. By keeping these simple factors in mind, you should have no problem starting a wine cellar that you can enjoy for years to come.