10 tips for perfectly fitting out a wine cellar

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Optimum wine storage

Having quality wines is the promise of unforgettable tasting moments provided you choose them well. To build a quality cellar at competitive prices, we recommend that you turn to the primeur wines 2021. In addition to an advantageous price, you will have a cellar with rare and highly sought-after wines.

To keep them as they should, you will need to meet all the conditions necessary for their good conservation, whether in a fitted out space or through a service cellar. These are the conditions:

Temperature

Wine does not tolerate temperature differences well. To preserve it, it is therefore advisable to favor a temperature between 10 and 13°C. It can be in a natural cellar, in a space with a ventilation system or in a room that is only slightly subject to seasonal temperature variations.

humidity

For optimal conservation, it is necessary to be vigilant with thehygrometry of your wine cellar. This is the humidity level present in the air, which must be about 70%. Indeed, if the air is too dry, the corks will dry out and the wine will be altered. Conversely, if the room is too humid, mold can grow. You can check the humidity level using a hygrometer.

The luminosity

Light, or rather darkness, is another factor that plays an important role in the preservation of wine. In fact, the wine must be kept in a dark space away from direct sunlight and any type of light. Wherever the wine is stored, opt for low-power, incandescent lighting avoiding, at all costs, directing it towards the bottles you keep.

insulation

Since temperature and humidity stability are essential, it is necessary to install your wine cellar in an insulated space, whether naturally, as in the case of underground cellars, or not. If the space is subject to the fluctuations of these two elements, you should resort to laying an insulating material.

Set up a wine cellar at home

Develop Wine Cellar At Home
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To benefit from your own wine cellar, there are several solutions depending on your needs, your budget, but also the space you have. Thus, before you start, it will be necessary to take stock.

Space

Depending on your average consumption, your desires as a collector and your habits, it may be useful to set a limit on the number of bottles. Indeed, there is no need to store more bottles than you can or will be able to consume in the future.

Also, if you only have limited space, avoid choosing too many wines to keep for a long time. It is also necessary to think about the turnover rate of your cellar. To start on a good basis, you can bet on a capacity of 50 bottles. You will thus benefit from a respectable cellar for a reduced investment. However, if your objective is to age wine for several years and you receive often, a larger cellar can be interesting.

The location

A wine cellar can be created wherever you wish as long as the storage conditions described above are respected. If you have a cellar, a basement or a garage, these places will lend themselves to it perfectly. However, you can also use an under stairway, a laundry room, a pantry or a closet for this purpose. You can even choose to install a service cellar, which can perfectly find its place in your kitchen.

Types of wine cellar

Wine Cellar Types
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For the preservation of your wine, you can choose from different types of wine cellar.

The buried cellar

Your home may already have an underground cellar, as is the case with many old houses, but you can also have one built. Indeed, some specialized companies can dig the ground in your garden or in your home to install your turnkey cellar. It’s a expensive solution, but which offers many advantages. However, it is only possible if you live in a detached house.

The cellar in a room

If you live in an apartment or if the construction of an underground cellar is neither financially nor materially a feasible solution, you always have the possibility of using a space in your home. In this case, this implies, all the same, to make the few modifications necessary to make it suitable for the conservation of wine.

The wine cabinet

For smaller budgets or smaller spaces, it is possible to invest in a cabinet or wine cellar. This type of appliance meets the optimum conditions for storing wine and is available in different sizes. So you can store up to 200 bottles without having to undertake substantial work. In addition, it will easily integrate into your interior, since you can even find made-to-measure models with the possibility of choosing a personalized covering, etc.

A few tips for better preservation of your wine

Once you have chosen and installed your cellar, it is time to install your first bottles. To allow your wine to retain all of its aromas, follow these tips:

  • Store the bottles lying down or tilted, this will allow you to prevent the corks from drying out.
  • Choose the type of classification you want for your bottles. It can be by region, by color, but in any case, take into account the shelf life of your bottles to avoid having to constantly move them.
  • If you bought bottles of wine in wooden boxes, you can leave them there. However, if they are stored in a cardboard box, take them out of this packaging, because by absorbing humidity, the cardboard could transmit unpleasant odors to the wine.
  • All odorous substances or products present in your cellar or nearby must be removed to avoid spoiling your bottles. This is the case with chemicals, paint, fruit.
  • Finally, avoid installing a washing machine or anything that can emit vibrations near your wine cellar. If vibrations are possible without you being able to intervene, for example if you live near a metro or train line, etc., it is recommended to install anti-vibration rubbers under your lockers or shelves.


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