Intoxicating Designs: 5 Not-So-Sober Tips to Build the Ultimate Wine Cellar for Your Dream Home

She’s rich, in-depth, complex and full bodied. Her dark intense appeal draws you in and leaves you feeling intoxicated, yet refreshed – and no, I’m not talking about your Mrs. I’m talking about that bottle of vintage red that you’re going to be buying for your new wine cellar.

We all know that wine starts off as just a bunch of grapes. Add some water, exotic spices and other ingredients though, let it age and ferment over time and you’ve got yourself something pretty spectacular. A good bottle of wine (or two) cheers the sad, revives the old, inspires the young and makes weariness forget his toil, says the very wise Lord Byron.

Everything that involves wine is about brilliance, precision and attention to detail. Thus, it’s pretty safe to say you need a dedicated wine cellar, that’s just as flawless and fabulous, to show off your exquisite wine collection (even if you haven’t started collecting…yet) We check out some not-so-sober tips to build the ultimate wine cellar for your home.

1. Making Use of the Space You Have Already 

You don’t need to be living in an enormous mansion to create your own wine cellar. Nor you need an underground basement or a secret entrance tucked away under the dining room area leading into one. Location is a key factor when it comes to your wine cellar but it’s important you make use of the space that’s already there.

Pick a space that isn’t exposed to direct sunlight (this is why basements are perfect) and that can offer controlled conditions with relative ease. If your home doesn’t have a basement, repurposing a closet or small storage area can be ideal. Alternatively, if you’re after something bigger (which, let’s face it we all want a giant wine cellar) find or create a space in your home that can maintain constant temperature and humidity, and hold a decent wine collection of course.

2. The Perfect Temperature 

Building a wine cellar that’s climate controlled is essential for those valuable bottles to be kept well-conditioned. Generally, the accepted ‘perfect temperature’ to store wine at is around 12 degrees for red wine, and 7 degrees for white wine. These temperatures slow the aging process and allow for certain chemical reactions to occur slowly over time. This is what gives your wine its complex aromas, colour, flavours and characteristics.

Temperature control is one of the most important considerations in your wine cellar design. If your wine is stored at a temperature too warm, it’ll age twice as fast and can change the wine’s flavour for the worse. Frequent changes in the temperature can introduce oxygen to your wine and this can cause the wine to expand and lose its lustre. If you can’t achieve these goals, find the coolest closet or space where the temperature stays consistent. Place a thermometer inside and check in the morning, at midday and again at night to check its consistency.

3. Light up that Vino 

Pay attention to the lighting you use in your wine cellar. You’ll want to consider something that is cost-effective, but lights up those trophy bottles exceptionally too for a stunning and unique display. Keeping temperature control in mind, stay away from lights that heat up too much or light bulbs that don’t offer UV protective coating (this can be harmful to your wine).

Halogen lighting systems with frosted, tempered glass lens can add a dramatic flair to your cellar, without compromising the taste and characteristics of your wine. Air Lock recessed ceiling lights are a popular choice too. All lights should have a dimmer switches to control the brightness and put on a timer system so they’re not left on for long periods of time. For the main lighting solution, track lighting is often used which can complement spotlights perfectly for various display lights to accent different areas of the cellar.

4. Choice of Materials 

The choice of materials used in your wine cellar can make or break the overall design. Preventing airborne contaminants is vital for the health of the wine so opt for materials that won’t off-gas. Stainless steel is a high quality, ideal option because it offers a sleek and contemporary look.  If the wine cellar is on display in your home, floor-to-ceiling glass walls can really show off your collection and look super classy.

For the wine racks, common woods that are resistant to rot in cool and damp cellars should be used. Wood with natural finishes complements the stainless look perfectly but stay away from cedar because of its strong odour. Wood with mineral oil finishes is best, like cypress, walnut and mahogany. If you do decide to paint your wine cellar, stick to zero-VOC paints to prevent corruption to your wine.

5. Accessorise, Accessorise Accessorise  

One of the most exciting parts of having your own wine cellar (besides drinking the wine of course…!) is accessorising. The right accessories can really pull together the overall look and feel of the cellar design and definitely add to the wine lover’s experience.

It’s essential, for a wine enthusiast to have a good wine glass. This addition will help you and your friends appreciate the full depth, flavour and aroma of your wine. From flutes, coupes, tulips and tumblers there’s the perfect glass for every occasion so it’s probably a good idea to get a few of each – just to be prepared, right?

In addition to regular shelving, you may want to opt for a smaller, flashier wine rack to display you good wine taste and store the wines you’re going to be drinking more often. For the ultimate wine connoisseur, a wine decanter will help your wine grow in flavour.