By Jamie Spence | Contributor
People have certainly been spending more time at home since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis. Consequently, many “Honey Do” lists are getting tackled, and numerous “someday projects” have transitioned into current endeavors. There’s never been a better moment to take some ideas from your wish list and bring them to fruition. One such idea on the wish list is remodeling wine storage.
An attractive wine storage solution benefits you whether you are storing a few bottles or a hundred.
If you have invested in a wonderful wine collection, showcasing it with beautiful wine storage allows you to enjoy it on multiple levels. It lets you appreciate the beauty of your wine while it is in storage, as well as relishing the flavor when you uncork a bottle for friends or family.
While not everyone has an extra room to convert into a wine storage area, most individuals have some underutilized space that could serve this purpose. A custom wine wall with glass enclosure or an under-the-stairs wine alcove can serve as an architectural highlight that adds both visual appeal and value to your home. Consider the following options:
- A rarely-used spare bedroom
- Under-stairs space
- An under-utilized closet
- Empty space in an office or garage
Space can be crafted in various locations, but striking the right balance between providing a suitable environment for your wines while making it a beautiful feature of your home can be a difficult task for many homeowners. Hiring a reputable professional contractor with experience will save you frustration and money over time. A professional can help you design a home wine cellar or storage solution that accommodates your available space, wine collection, and budget.
Wine Storage 101: Climate Control
Since fluctuations in temperature and humidity can adversely affect the quality of your wines, your initial focus should be on creating a controlled temperature environment for your wine storage. Maintaining consistent temperature levels is essential to preserve the quality of your collection. A good target temperature is around 55 degrees F. Given the heat extremes frequently experienced in Texas, relying on ambient temperatures—a passive storage solution—may not be ideal. Temperatures reaching as high as 80 degrees can harm wine, making temperature control imperative. Storing wine at room temperature or warmer for too long could lead to quick aging and loss of flavor and aroma.
Actively cooled wine storage employs cooling units and insulation to regulate the environmental conditions. Essentially, it’s like having a private air conditioning system for the area. When designing your storage, it is essential to include appropriate insulation, a vapor barrier, and a cooling unit that is correctly sized for your space to maintain consistent temperatures and humidity levels. Large fluctuations in these conditions are the top enemy of wine quality!
Different types of wine require different ranges of temperature.
If you plan to concentrate your collection on a particular type of wine, you can disregard the needs of the other. If you collect both red and white wines, 55 degrees F is usually the recommended temperature that satisfies both varieties. Some individuals choose to store white wines in conventional kitchen refrigerators; however, these are significantly cooler than dedicated wine refrigerators and may result in white wines becoming flat and lacking flavor if stored for a long time.
Humidity is another critical factor that can negatively impact your wine. The ideal humidity range for wine storage is between 50 to 70 percent. Maintaining humidity levels within this range will keep moisture inside the wine bottle instead of allowing it to seep into the cork and eventually evaporate.
Aesthetic Appeal
Wood
While you may have specific ideas about the materials you wish to incorporate into your dream wine cellar’s floors and walls, remember that your primary concern should be maintaining a controlled environment for your wine. Because wood can endure high humidity levels without damage, it serves as an excellent material for flooring, walls, or accents. Whether you desire a cozy, traditional aesthetic or a sleek, modern vibe, various wood types and shades are available to enhance any design style. Redwood, mahogany, walnut, alder, pine, or white oak all offer distinctive appearances and can impart a luxurious, sophisticated feel to any design. When paired with your preferred color palette, wood can help establish a unique space that reflects your personal taste.
Glass
Glass enclosures for wine storage are remarkable for several reasons. They highlight the beauty of your collection and the storage environment without compromising the visual space. Glass can be integrated almost anywhere in your home, instantly transforming any storage into a centerpiece of the room. When combined with attractive lighting fixtures, wood, stone, or metal bar accessories, you can create a stunning ambiance for your collection.
Key design elements to consider:
- A beautiful glass wine enclosure
- Wine racks, shelving, or custom cabinets
- A wine glass caddy
- Attractive, functional lighting that won’t damage your wine collection
- Bar accessories such as corkscrews and glass decanters
- Flooring and wall materials
Optimal wine storage conditions involve placing bottles horizontally in a dimly-lit, cool, and humidity-controlled environment isolated from any mechanical vibrations. The manner in which your wine collection is stored can significantly affect its aroma and taste. It’s also vital to plan for the future: if you’re a wine enthusiast, you’re likely to need additional space for your expanding inventory!
For more information about Liberty Glass & Mirror, click here or call 972-540-1555.
Ideal wine storage conditions place bottles horizontally in a dimly-lit, cool, and humidity-controlled environment isolated from any mechanical vibrations.
Glass-enclosures spotlight the beauty of your collection and the storage environment and can be utilized almost anywhere, instantly turning any storage in a main living area into a focal point of the room.
Photos courtesy of Liberty Glass and Mirror.
