Monday, December 6, 2010

Specialty Rooms - Wine Cellar

Who loves wine?  Me too!  In home wine cellars are growing in popularity. 
It is remarkable how much wine can fit into a relatively small space, especially if you use a simple wooden or metal racking system, which will keep wines well ventilated, and provide easy single-bottle access.  Cellars can range from a tiny closet to an entire basement.
Below are a few inspirational wine cellar photos.  Let Stone Cottage Construction design a wine cellar for your new home or remodel.









 A few Tips on Creating A Wine Cellar:
  • The first essential is to create a storage environment that provides the basics of stable temperature, no light and no vibration.
  • Your cupboard, indoor space or your outdoor construction must be well shaded, well insulated and with the minimum of air movement in and out.
  • The objective is to provide stored wines with a constant temperature of between 50°F and 59°F (10°C – 15°C).
  • Moderate humidity is important to keep the cork in good resilient condition and prevent it shrinking. Screw capped bottles do not require humidity.
  • Light will prematurely age a bottle of wine. Clear bottles are most susceptible to this problem, but ultraviolet light will penetrate even dark colored glass.
  • Ultraviolet light will damage wine by causing the degradation of the otherwise stable organic compounds, especially the tannins found in wine. These organic compounds contribute to the aroma, flavor and structure of the wine. Without them your wine would appear flat and thin.
  • Sparkling wines require extra care as they are more sensitive to light than other wines.
  • Store your wine bottles horizontally so the wine is in contact with the cork. This will keep the cork wet. If the cork dries out and shrinks it will let air get to your wine. Store it with the label facing up. 

No comments:

Post a Comment