Basically, a wine cellar is a kind of storage room or storage lot for wines in barrels or bottles. The wines could also be plastic containers, amphoras and carboys. The cellars are generally and prominently situated completely underground. These also have a direct contact with the surrounding soil following small gaps in the initial foundations.
These wine cellars provide the opportunity for protection of alcoholic beverages from prominently and typically harmful external factors. Moreover these provide a constant apt temperature and darkness to the wines. These are also used as modish surrounding for tasting of wine.
Well, the cellar management and wine management systems are reciprocals and dependent on each other. So let us study the various aspects of cellar management in the context of wine management system.
There are 4 basic elements that you need to manage in the wine cellar for elongated and effective storage of wine. These four elements are basically position, light, temperature and humidity. These four aspects need to be taken care off well, so that that every wine that comes out of the cellar tastes fine and people can enjoy it.
Position and Peace
The first thing which plays an essential part in cellar and wine management is the peace and position of the wines. The bottles need to be kept safely in a horizontal manner, so that they are not disturbed in any case. The reason that the bottles should be laid horizontally is that they should always be in touch with the cork and thus get prevented from drying. If the cork dries out, then the bottle would get affected by the bacteria, fungus and yeast, and this would later create off flavors in the wine.
It should be also ensured in the cellar room that the wine remains undisturbed for a very long time. As the time would pass, the wine would age and change itself in the bottle. It would continue to form sediments and these sediments should sink to the bottom of the bottle.
Temperature
Cellar management also requires that an appropriate temperature be maintained in the cellar. The wines in any case should be kept away from extreme cold temperatures and heat sources. The wines should not be stored in freezing temperatures which could cause the bottles to break. The wines should not be exposed to heat above 64F so that wines don't get cooked up in the bottle and develop off flavors. So there should be maintenance of a constant temperature.
Light and Humidity
Wine should be protected from strong and direct sunlight as it could have an adverse effect on the body and aroma of the wine. Darkness is the best option that should be maintained in a wine cellar. The humidity factor should also be kept in mind and the humidity level should be maintained high to avoid cork shrinking from the outside.
If you are one of the many people around the globe who are passionate about wine you may be wondering about having a wine cellar built in your home. There are many reasons you might want to do this. Some people just want a place they can store some wine for a few years until the wine has aged. Whilst there are others who view wine as an investment just like stocks and shares. It's amazing just how much wine can increase in value over a couple of decades.
Whatever type of drinker of buyer you are, building a wine cellar can really add to your home. The problem with wines is that they don't keep for forever and a day. To keep them in peak condition you need to provide the best possible conditions. These conditions should be dark and cool. Some cellars that are built underground naturally have these qualities. However if they don't you need to buy some equipment to allow you to control conditions much more easily.
You will find that most quality restaurants and hotels have wine cellars however there is no reason why you can't have one too. You just need to be aware of a few things as listed here:-
It's important you have an idea of where you are going to build your cellar. You don't need a huge space, a room of about 3 x 3 x 3 meters will be sufficient. The most ideal location is in your basement however for larger homes you can build one wherever you want pretty much. To help keep the temperature at the optimum level you need to ensure you have plenty of insulation. The insulation will work in much the same way as an insulated cool bag. You will require R-11 for inside walls and R-19 for outside walls. If your cellar is going to be built in the basement you need to see about a vapour barrier and concrete sealant for the flooring. For the vapor barrier you would use a polyethylene plastic sheet which is 6mm thick.
Because wines prefer cooler conditions you need to install a cooler. There are two types which have different benefits and minus points so you should look into this in detail before buying. Basically there are two types; standard and split. Standard systems are cheaper and easier to install but the downside is their lifespan; it's only about 5 or 6 years. The split system is the opposite; it costs more and needs to be fitted by a professional however it lasts a lot longer.
The type of door you choose for your cellar is also very important; it should be insulated, sealed, windowless and solid. Wooden doors are not suitable because they don't insulate well.
Because you need to be able to see when you are in your wine cellar, lighting is need however you need to also be aware that lights can damage the wine. Therefore it's best to install dimmer switches so have better control over the intensity of light.
The flooring you choose for your cellar should be hard, for instance, stone, slate or tile. Do not even consider installing carpeting
So whether you have a relatively small collection of wine bottles or enough to supply a small hotel, building your own wine cellar can make a great addition to your home.
Both Burt Cotton & April Kerr are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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