Guide – How To Construct A Wine Cellar

A practical guide to creating your ideal wine storage space

What is really involved in designing & installing my wine cellar?

We receive phone calls every day from people that are going to transform a room in their home or retail space into functional wine storage. It is a treat to hear all the creative ideas that so many people have, and how excited they are to show off their wine collection. The fact is that there are a lot of options to consider. Along the way there are quite a few decisions to make.

Wine Cellar Location

Location

If you are going to actively cool your wine collection you will need to start with a properly located area with adequate insulation and ventilation for your cooling

Wine Rack Finishes

Finishing

For instance, how will you light it, are you going to use a glass door, flooring, wall covering…not to mention the racking.

Wine Cellar Style

Style

We feel the best wine cellars reflect the personality of their owners and cater to the wine room’s overall use and the types of wine being stored.

It depends on the results you are after

What is your Vision?

Wine Cellar Tips

Unless you intend to create fully custom, one-of-a-kind racking from exotic materials, you will likely end up choosing from modular racking products. Because no two spaces are identical, modular racking is designed to fit together in a way that allows you to optimize your space without the added expense and lead times associated with a completely custom racking product.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A MODULAR WINE RACKING SYSTEM?

Modular wine storage system, like your kitchen cabinets, is made up of individual units that are grouped together to form a storage system. There are many different companies that produce modular wine storage systems.

Wine Cellar Design Guide

At Wine Racks America we manufacture our instaCellar, CellarVue and Retail Wine Racks modular storage systems.

Our systems are made out of wood which is available unstained or with a variety of finishes.

We also design and distribute custom systems produced by reputable industry partners such as WhisperKOOL, Wine Guardian, VintageView Wine Storage Systems and more.

Wine Rack & Storage Brands

4 Step Plan

Cellar Design Guide

Step 1: Decide On Your Cooling System

STEP 1

Decide How You Want To Cool Your Wine

Step 2: Frame, Insulate, and Finish

STEP 2

Frame, Insulate & Finish Your Room

Step 3: Rack and Cooling System

STEP 3

Choosing Racking And Cooling

Step 4: Layout of Your Room,

STEP 4

Layout Your Room & Place Your Order

Step 1

Step 1

Decide How You Want To Cool Your Wine

When you boil it down there only two different types of wine cellar – passive & active.

A passive cellar is not actively climate controlled
An active cellar is climate controlled & acts like a big walk-in refrigerator.

Whatever your approach is to your cellar, remember this:
The ideal room conditions for long term storage consist of a constant temperature between 55°F and 60°F with 50% to 70% relative humidity.

Wine Cellar Tips

Unless you intend to create fully custom, one-of-a-kind racking from exotic materials, you will likely end up choosing from modular racking products. Because no two spaces are identical, modular racking is designed to fit together in a way that allows you to optimize your space without the added expense and lead times associated with a completely custom racking product.

Step 2

Step 2

Frame, Insulate & Finish Your Room

Constructing Your Cellar Space

When you create a cooled wine room you are in fact creating a walk-in refrigerator. As such the three key ingredients in any wine room are insulation, insulation and more insulation! Each aspect of your room – wine cooling systems, cellar doors, lighting, windows and glass panels need to be properly insulated so that your cooling system works properly and your wine can age in splendor.

If you have the luxury of starting from scratch, try to pick a space that is not exposed directly to the sun. Preferably the basement. If it is above ground try to locate it near the center part of the home.

If you are going to cool the room with one of our popular through-wall cooling systems, you will need a space next to it large enough to dissipate the warm air that is discharged. If not, you’ll be ducting air to and from the wine room with either a cooling system that runs in another room or a split system where the compressor is housed outside and the fan is located inside.

A

WALL & CEILING CONSTRUCTION

Use 2 x 4’s or 2 x 6’s in framing the walls. Use at least a 2 x 8 in framing the ceiling. All are 16” on center. Remember: the more room for insulation, the better (I like to frame with 2×6’s).

Wall & Ceiling Construction
B

VAPOR BARRIER

Vapor Barrier A 6mm plastic barrier (available at most larger home stores) wrapped around the entire room including the ceiling is the only way to seal the room against moisture transfer. Apply the vapor barrier to the “warm side” of the wall. The side of the wall that houses the wine is the “cool” side.

  • If you have access to both sides of your wall studs. install the barrier between studs and sheetrock on the warm side of the wall. (See figure 1)
  • If you do not have access to both sides of your studs (i.e. your studs are attached to a solid surface such as concrete or brick, the room is a re-model, etc.), wrap the studs and create a cavity for your insulation. (See figure 2)
Vapor Barrier

What are we trying to prevent is the warm air from an adjacent room or the outside coming through the wall and hitting the cool air of the wine cellar. When this happens you get condensation, which can cause issues with mold and mildew over time.

By simply putting a vapor barrier on the outside of the wall, this will prevent the warm air from travelling through the wall, thus preventing condensation.

C

INSULATION

You can use fiberglass bats, rigid foam or blown in insulation. There ought to be a minimum of R-19 in the walls, and R-30 in the ceiling. The R-value is an insulation designation. Basically the higher the R-value the better the insulation.

Insulation
D

SHEETROCK

For longevity add moisture resistant sheetrock (green board) over the studs and insulation. Then add a wall treatment that suits your tastes.Before you finish mudding, double check to make sure all air leaks in the room are sealed tight. Make sure to tightly seal and weather strip holes in your sheetrock from light switches, cooling units, power outlets, etc.

E

WALL TREATMENT

One of the most common questions we get is, “What should I cover the walls with?” The answer is “whatever makes you happiest.” Here are some common choices…

  • Latex paint applied to create an “aged” effect
  • Sanded paint or stucco
  • Tile or slate
  • Faux rock
  • Tongue & groove wood paneling
  • River rock, flagstone or travertine
Wall Treatment
F

FLOORING

Definitely use a solid surface – something that spilled wine or moisture won’t hurt. Sealed hardwood, tile, stone & sealed concrete are all popular choices. Wine barrel flooring is another unique and beautiful choice! Don’t use carpet. Mold and mildew will show up very quickly.

  • Latex paint applied to create an “aged” effect
  • Sanded paint or stucco
  • Tile or slate
  • Faux rock
  • Tongue & groove wood paneling
  • River rock, flagstone or travertine
Flooring
G

DOORS & WINDOWS

The added expense of building a quality wine cellar that includes insulation, a cooling unit, moisture resistant sheetrock, etc., needs to also include high quality doors & windows. These two items are responsible for more temperature and moisture exchange than any other part of your cellar.

Doors DOORS

Actively cooled wine cellars demand an exterior grade door with dual pane insulated glass, tight-fitting closure hardware and weather stripping to hold in the cold. Interior grade doors will NOT insulate well enough and your cooling system will pay the price.Wood and glass wine cellar doors are perfect for creating an elegant entrance that also seals in the ideal wine environment.

Windows WINDOWS

Same basic principles as the door. Quality insulated glass, a high quality frame, and good sealant should be your rule of thumb.You CANNOT go overboard when it comes to sealing up your cellar. Use caulk, sheetrock mud, super glue, chewing gum (ha ha) – anything you can find to seal every crack and crevice before you insulate and vapor lock.

H

LIGHTING

Always opt for below-ceiling lighting from a low wattage source. Avoid recessed “can” lighting. Try a low wattage track lighting system, or some wall sconces placed just above the racking. Rope lighting, candles, and even LED lighting can add interesting touches to your cellar decor. If you put the light switch on a timer, you wont have to worry about the lights being left on after you have visited the cellar a couple of times during the evening. Cellared wine does not like bright lights for long periods of time.

Lighting
Step 3

Step 3

Choosing Racking And Cooling

Select A Racking Style That Fits Your Taste And Budget

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.

Wine Cellar Tips

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 your favorite bottle labels. 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?

At Wine Racks America we create racking made from Ponderosa Pine, Premium Redwood, Knotty Alder and Grand Mahogany.

What’s the difference?

NEXT, CHOOSE A COOLING SYSTEM

Depending on how well the space has been insulated, most wine cellar cooling unitshave 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°F, then the room that you are venting into cannot get warmer than 85°F. If it does, your cooling unit may “back-cycle” and quit prematurely. Therefore you should never vent into a closet, crawlspace, attic, or other space inadequate for heat dissipation.

Through Wall Cooling Units
Through Wall Cooling Units

Through-Wall Systems

There are many styles and brands of through-wall systemsavailable. Conceptually, all units are alike in that they remove heat (and moisture) from your space by pulling warm air out and forcing cool air in. Through-wall units need to exhaust into an adjacent space, so make sure there is adequate ventilation in the room you exhaust into. Some through-wall systems have ducting kits available that allow you to exhaust warm air as far as 25” to a source of fresh air.

Pros

  • Cost Effective
  • DIY Installation
  • Can fit into odd spaces
  • Exhaust can be ducted

Cons

  • Can be noisy
  • Requires drainage
  • Requires cutting a hole

WhisperKOOL Extreme 5000ti

Split Systems

With a split cooling system, the compressor is located outside so your wine cellar is 100% quiet and vibration-free. Due to the use of line sets to carry refrigerant, split systems require installation by a qualified HVAC technician. Split systems are the most efficient and quiet option for wine cellars.

Pros

  • Ultra-quiet performance
  • Higher BTU capabilities
  • Low-profile fans are nearly invisible
  • No ducting required

Cons

  • Exterior housing unit required for compressor
  • Professional install required

Cellar Pro 3000sh
Ducted All-in-One Cooling Units

Ducted All-In-Ones

These units combine the best aspects of a split system without the added hassle and expense of installing two separate units. Using simple duct, you can install the unit in an adjacent room so it’s quiet and vibration free in your wine cellar. Most ducted all-in-one cooling systems can be installed by a novice or DIY homeowner.

Pros

  • Cost effective and quiet
  • Highly configurable duct options
  • Virtually invisible in the cellar
  • DIY installation

Cons

  • Requires drainage for condensate
  • Requires space next to your cellar

Wine Guardian D050
Ceiling Mount Cooling System

Ceiling Mount Splits

A ceiling mount unit is the ultimate in quiet performance. Thermodynamics dictate that cooling systems run most efficiently when there is maximum air circulation. Ceiling mounted split systems are quickly gaining popularity due to their quiet, powerful performance and nearly invisible footprint in the cellar.

Pros

  • Maximum efficiency
  • Powerful and quiet
  • Nearly linvisible in the cellar
  • No drainage required

Cons

  • Professional install required
  • Exterior install required
  • Installation can be tricky

WhisperKOOL Ceiling 4000
Step 4

Step 4

Layout Your Room & Place Your Order

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