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Cooling systems and racking
A cooling unit such as WhisperKOOL, Wine Guardian or CellarPro can help you create that perfect wine environment, but only if the cellar-to-be is properly built.
Choosing a Cooling System and Wine Racking
This is a properly installed through-wall cooling unit
Cooling
Most cooling units have about a 30° threshold that they can maintain between the wine cellar and the room that the exhaust vents into. This means that if you want your wine cellar to remain 55°, then the room that you are venting into cannot get warmer than 85°F. If it does, your cooling unit may get overworked and quit prematurely. Therefore you should never vent into a closet, crawlspace, attic, or other space inadequate for heat dissipation.
Humidity
Remember that your wine cellar should remain a stable 55°F, with RH (Relative Humidity) of 60%-70%. Some cellar cooling units allow you to dial RH in manually and let the unit do the rest. Those without the newer humidity controls can put a hygrometer in the cellar to determine the RH, and then tweak the percentage up or down using the cooling unit on its own or in conjunction with an active wine cellar humidifier that introduces moisture into the air.
How to choose the right racking
Is your cellar going to be the crown jewel of your home or is it for utility and just “getting the wine off the floor?” Admittedly, choosing the best options can feel a little intimidating. We like to follow this rule of thumb:
Let how you feel about your wine dictate how you display it. If you consider a wine bottle a work of art, then get racking that will allow you to see choice labels fully. Our display kits are great for displaying your most prized bottles. If you have lots of bottles but not a lot of variation, get “plainer” storage such as bulk bins and cubes.
What wood type is best for me?
Most of our large product line is available in Ponderosa Pine and Premium Redwood. What’s the difference?
Pine – This sturdy, affordable wine cellar material is beautiful as is or stained to match other types of wood. Stain to match mahogany, cherry, or add a polyurethane clear coat to bring out the natural beauty.
Pine lends a rustic, warm feeling to any room or cellar.
Redwood – Redwood is favorite among collectors, designers and decorators for its stunning natural beauty and versatility.
Redwood contains chemicals that make it naturally resistant to moisture and mildew, making it a perfect racking material in dark, moist environments.
Redwood imparts a rich, bold feeling. Finish as you see fit or leave untreated and admire naturally.