Category Archives: residential wine cellars

Reclaimed Wine Barrel Racks

Residential Wine Cellars with Reclaimed Wine Barrel Racks – Sustainable Wine Cellars

A recently completed custom wine cellar project in McLean, Virginia, showcases the ideal green wine storage space that demonstrates sustainability, style, and luxury.  Unlike most custom residential wine cellars, this wine room is an excellent model of eco-conscious interiors and sustainable furnishings, from its passively cooled environment to its nature-friendly wine racking materials.

Reclaimed Wine Barrel Racks

Residential Wine Cellars Virginia

This residential wine cellars Virginia project was designed to be cooled naturally, and thus does not require an active wine cellar refrigeration system for achieving consistent temperature and humidity levels necessary to proper wine storage.  The McLean Virginia sustainable wine cellars project was installed below the ground, to promote cost effective and energy efficient cellaring through passive wine cellar cooling.

To maximize the passive wine cellar cooling capability of the room, careful attention was given to the basement and underground walls, as well as proper insulation materials that would play a crucial role in creating the best possible wine storage environment down in the cellar.

Basement residential wine cellars are the most desirable wine storage location for the romantic wine connoisseurs.  These underground custom wine rooms are designed to provide a passively stable environment for storing and aging wine collectibles.  Passive wine cellar cooling takes advantage of its naturally cool and damp surroundings in creating the ideal storage conditions.  This is why passive cellars are usually built below the ground.

To be in tune with the overall environmentally friendly concept of the home, the designers installed floor to ceiling custom wine rack styles constructed in reclaimed wine barrel and copper materials.  Wine racking systems are a key component in cellaring wines, as they are designed to promote the proper orientation and presentation of wine bottles during storage.

After wine barrels have used up their life span, they are either disposed of in landfills or sold as firewood or planters.  In lieu of discarding old wine barrels, green minded designers turn them into sustainable products that can lend timeless beauty to any living space.  Reclaimed wine barrel racks are one of them.

 

Reclaimed Wine Barrel Racking

Reclaimed Wine Barrel Racks

Reclaimed wine barrel racks feature a unique and curvy appearance that displays the distinctive markings caused by the metal rings that once held the wine barrel intact.  The convex curve style of the barrel racking allowed for the angled storage of wine bottles, with the cork facing out.  Wine racks made from recycled wine barrels retain some of the natural aroma of the wine they previously held, thus bringing a sense of wine country history into the wine cellar space.

Aside from reclaimed wine barrel racks, the McLean Virginia sustainable wine cellars project also features cabinets with doors constructed from old wine barrels, and a countertop for storing case storage and displaying glass stemware.

Copper-made horizontal bottle displays dominate the rear wall of the wine cellar space.  Copper helps keep wine bottles cooled naturally.  Wine racks with horizontal shelving not only promote proper bottle placement, but also allow for easy readability of wine labels.

CharityWorks Greenhouse

CharityWorks Greenhouse

The McLean Virginia sustainable wine cellars project is part of The Charity Works Greenhouse Initiative, which is the first carbon neutral house on the East Coast, and showcases energy efficient designs and renewable energy systems.

Overhead View of Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX

Dallas Forth Worth Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX – Part 1

Dallas Forth Worth Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX – Part 1 (A Processed Video Transcription)

 

Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX Project
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The Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX that I’m about to show you is quite an unusual residential wine cellars.  It’s a very small residential wine cellars; it’s only about 6 1/2 feet by not quite 7 feet wide and deep.

Overhead View of Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX

Overhead View of Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX

What we are going to show is we are going to walk you through two videos.  This is video number one showing you the design and video number 2 will show you photos of the completed custom wine cellars Westlake TX project.  So be sure and take a look at that video as well.

Here we are looking at the plan view or the overhead view of the residential wine cellars.  You’ll notice that there are 526 total bottles in the cellar.  We did reclaimed wine barrel flooring as well as reclaimed wine barrel tabletop.  The corner is a circular rack and we’re going to show that as we go along.  Elevation A is the back wall, elevation B is the left wall and elevation C is the corner.

Plan View - Residential Wine Cellars Westlake TX

Elevation A – Residential Wine Cellars Westlake TX

Elevation A, you’ll see that we have individual bottles along the back wall.  We have an arch hand carved, the grape vine design, a glass rack, horizontal racking for magnum bottles above, and below we have a double deep area with solid diamond bins.  The base crown moldings in this residential wine cellars are each 4 inch high.  The crown molding is a two-step crown molding as you could see in a larger view to the right.

Elevation B - Left Wall Wine Cellar Design

Elevation B – Left Wall Wine Cellar Design

As we move on to elevation B, the left wall we built in a grill cover and box to hide the RM2600 split wine cooling system.  This is where the fan coil goes inside the box.  The box is made of the same wood as the racks to complement.  You have individual 750 bottles and we have a display row with a light valance where the customer installed LED ribbon lighting.  You have another row of 750 bottles on each side and case storage in the center with adjustable shelves.

Carousel Wine Rack for Custom Wine Cellars

Carousel Wine Rack for Custom Wine Cellars

Moving on to the corner is where we did a carousel rack.  It’s a half rack, half height wide, and these are circular racks turn around so you can get at each bottle.

Overhead 3D View - Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX

Overhead 3D View – Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX

Here is the overhead 3D view.  Here again you can see where we put the reclaimed wine barrel table tops and reclaimed wine barrel flooring inside the cellar.  You have your single deep rack on the left, single deep rack up above on the right with the deep table top and lower racks with the carousel in the corner.

Completed Design of Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX

Completed Design of Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX

Here you’re looking in from the door at the finished residential wine cellars, and again the corner view, and from the right to the left.

Corner View 3D Wine Cellar Design

Corner View 3D Wine Cellar Design

Right View - 3D Wine Cellar Design

Right View – 3D Wine Cellar Design

This is the door that we used.  It’s a Tuscan door.  It has a rod iron grape vine design which is operable, dual-paned glass.  It includes your case moldings, interior and exterior, and an automatic door bottom. You’ll see all of that in the photos.

Tuscan Wine Cellar Door for Residential Wine Cellars

Tuscan Wine Cellar Door for Residential Wine Cellars

Please go to video number 2 and view the finished product of the Custom Wine Cellars Westlake TX.

Dallas Custom Wine Cellars – Projects Featured So Far

Texas Wine Cellar Builders

Check out the Custom Wine Cellars Dallas Texas complete playlist. Designs, walk-in tours Wine Cellar Builders a please to feature the complete list of Dallas based projects.

Custom Wine Cellars Dallas Texas

Dallas Texas Custom Wine Cellars & Design the Feature Pages

Dallas Texas Design Under Stairs Custom Wine Cellars Builder – Burke
Lyles Custom Wine Cellar – McKinney Nr Dallas, Texas
Residential Custom Wine Cellars Dallas Fort Worth – Westlake
Contemporary Residential Custom Wine Cellars Dallas Texas – Griffith
Mahogany Wine Cellar John’s Dallas Closet Cellar Conversion
Wine Cellars Dallas Texas, Wine Closet Conversion – Howell
Residential Custom Wine Cellars Dallas Texas Lucas – Nelson

See what’s happening in and around Dallas.  Wine room designs include design drawings, cooling system details, and styling features.  Great for ideas.  Take advantage of our Free 3D Cellar design drawing package.

 

Hosting Wine Parties in Residential Wine Cellars

Wine Enthusiasts – Having Wine Parties in Home Wine Cellars

There are many benefits to having a wine cellar in your home. They are great investments, raising the value of your property. They allow homeowners to buy and collect a lot of wine, storing it long term, a wonderful hobby these days. But perhaps one of the most fun advantages of having a wine cellar is when you have parties and entertain guests.

Enjoying Wine Storing and Entertaining in Your Home

Residential wine cellars in Dallas, Texas are a great addition to any home, and they can be a major selling point should the owners decide to put their house on the market.

Hosting Wine Parties in Residential Wine Cellars

Hosting Wine Parties in Residential Wine Cellars

Another advantage of having a private wine cellar is that it allows collectors to buy wines in bulk.  Home wine cellars provide the right climate conditions for wines to age to their full potential.  It also offers ease of access to a wide range of varietals at any given time.

But perhaps most important, wine cellars also serve as the perfect venue for entertaining friends and hosting wine tasting parties.  In fact, wine rooms nowadays are designed not just for storage purposes, but also for entertainment.  Modern wine cellars are a picture of elegance and cozy ambiance, which makes them a great place for holding a little soiree with friends and family.

A wine tasting party is an event where people who are passionate about wines come together to talk about their favorite varietals, as well as try out new and unusual tastes that will satisfy their curious palates.  There’s more to tasting parties than just knocking back glass after glass of wine.  It is a casual setting, preferably in a wine tasting room, where everyone can share their wine experiences and knowledge, and also create opportunities to nurture and cultivate friendships.

Hosting a wine tasting party comes in handy when one has access to a residential wine cellar.  It can stave off the stress of searching for the best location to conduct the event.  Having wine parties in-home wine cellars offers a sense of intimacy and quietude not afforded to a commercial space.

Pick a Party Theme

Wine Parties in Residential Wine Cellars - Choice of Wines

Wine Parties in Residential Wine Cellars – Choice of Wines

For wine enthusiasts who are keen on throwing their own wine tasting event, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to make the affair memorable.  The first is to pick a theme for the event.  A group may choose to compare and taste an assortment of wines from the same grape varieties from different regions.

Once a theme has been picked, the host then decides on what approach to use to explore this idea.  One approach could be to host a vertical wine tasting event, which focuses on wines that come from the same winery but are produced from different grape varieties.  Another angle could be a horizontal tasting party, which involves wines produced from the same grape varieties.

Party Size

Although there is no rule as to how many people can attend a wine tasting party, it is always a good idea to keep the size to a minimum.  The size of the group should be enough to taste test one bottle of each wine.  A single bottle of wine can pour 12 1.5 ounce tastes.  Hence, the ideal party size should be around 12 people.  Limiting the number of people in attendance also provides plenty of opportunities to exchange and compare wine tasting notes.

Types of Stemware to Use and Food to Serve

Picking out the right glass stemware is also an important factor.  Plastic cups are a no-no unless you’re throwing a frat party.  Remember that wine glasses can influence the perception and presentation of varietals.  Different shapes of glass stemware can enhance the characteristics and aroma of different wines.  At a casual wine tasting event, wine glasses need not be stylish but should at least be clear enough to see, smell, swirl, and sip wines.

Pairing food with wines is an excellent idea.  Providing a small selection of finger food appetizers can help intensify the tasting experience.  Examples of wine tasting appetizers are cheese plates, cured sausages and meat, bruschetta, and cured olives.  Serving bread or crackers can help cleanse the palate between each taste.  Also, make sure that there is water on hand to keep guests hydrated.

Table Preparations

In order for the color of wines to be seen accurately, the venue for the wine tasting party must be properly illuminated and the table should be covered in a white tablecloth.  If a white tablecloth is not available, white place-mats will do.  Paper and pens should also be distributed so that guests can write down their observations and describe their experiences.

Home Wine Distribution and Storage Systems by WineStation

Wine Dispensers for Wine Enthusiastes in their HomeA new trend in home wine storage is to install a wine pouring device that also stores your open bottles. When bottles get opened they need to be finished within a couple of days or they get ruined by oxidation. This elegant device stores wine that’s been opened for up to a month.

You can also program the exact amount for wine distribution. This makes for a perfect pour every time. Many wine bars and restaurants use this for serving lots of glasses of wine easily and professionally. Having a WineStation in your home, at your party, can make for convenient serving, reduce spills, and prevent unintended-drinking. And it’s beautifully designed, adding a stunning piece of luxury to your home.

Many Happy Wine Cellar Memories

With a properly installed residential wine cellar, a wine dispenser, and a well planned out event with all the party perks, the event will surely be a success. There will be many more happy memories to come in a beautiful home, with the help of custom wine storage and a wine serving room. Enjoy!

Need an expert in Wine Cellar Design?

Unoaked Chardonnay – the Naked Wine in Your Home Wine Cellar

Residential Wine Cellar Texas

Unoaked wines are widely produced by many winemakers and are present in almost every residential wine cellar.

Many people choose to collect wines because for them, wine is already a part of their lives and it makes any wine drinking experience more enjoyable. Increased knowledge of wines is important, whether you are just starting a wine collection or you already have a large number of wines stored in your residential wine cellar.

One of the most interesting topics in the wine world is about unoaked wines. Many people might be wondering what unoaked wines are and their characteristics. This article will discuss unoaked wines, particularly Chardonnay.

Traditionally, wines are allowed to ferment in wine oak barrels, which create the flavors and bouquet of the finished wine. Oak barrels help balance the tannins in wine, enhance the texture and add a little spice and some sweet vanillin characters to the wine.

Stainless Steel Wine Barrels

Unoaked Wines are Produced Using Stainless Steel Barrels

The wine making process has evolved so much as time has gone by. Some winemakers even deviated from tradition to discover “naked” wines.

“Naked wine” is a term for unoaked wine, or wine that has never been aged inside an oak barrel. Production of unoaked wines involves a cost effective process using a stainless barrel instead of the more traditional oak barrel. Steel aging brings out the true flavor, without the influence of oak barrels.

In unoaked wines, the natural flavors of grapes and elements of the soil from which they are grown are emphasized. Unoaked wine is perfect as a table or dessert wine because of its light flavor. It is perfect for people who cannot drink wine with high tannin content.

If wine is unoaked, the tannin level is lowered, making the wine bearable to drink. Many consumers enjoy a lighter and fruitier wine without the influence of the oak barrels, which is why unoaked wines are widely produced by many winemakers and are present in almost every wine cellar.

We cannot deny that unoaked wines are gaining popularity in the US. One of the most popular non-oaked wines in the US, especially in California, is the unoaked Chardonnay, which was originally popularized by Chablis.

Chardonnay Wines

One of the most popular naked wines in the US is unoaked Chardonnay.

Since Chardonnay is a neutral grape and can deliver various flavors and aromas, many winemakers like to experiment in creating a different taste of the wine after fermentation. Chardonnays which are fermented and aged in oak barrels taste like butter or caramel and have scents of vanilla, spice or wood. They also deliver a creamy texture.

When Chardonnay is fermented and aged in steel wine barrels, it is unoaked or un-wooded. Unoaked Chardonnay has light and delicate flavors, making it more versatile in food pairing compared to oaked Chardonnay.

The true characteristics and crisp fruit flavor of wine will emerge if it is not fermented or aged in oak barrels, which is why some winemakers choose not to oak wines. There’s nothing better than ending a stressful day with a glass of unoaked Chardonnay from your home wine cellar.

The Awarded Project, Dallas Custom Wine Cellars – Frisco, Texas

Wine Cellar Specialists, Dallas based wine cellar builders are proud to announce that we were winners of a 2012 Dallas Builders Association Award.  The award was given for our innovative Custom Wine Cellars Project described below.  This award is given to Dallas based Associates, Remodelers and Custom Builders for both custom building and renovation work.

See the Full Project Page – Custom Wine Cellars Dallas– Frisco, Texas

This wine room renovation project was a former kitchen pantry.  After removing the shelving, walls, and ceiling, we installed the lines for a split purpose-built wine cellar cooling system with the evaporator coil inside the cellar (hidden by a grill cover and box that matches the racks) and a compressor in the garage.

At Wine Cellar Specialists we always ensure that our wine cellars are built to last, efficient and trouble-free.  To that end, we added a vapor barrier and insulation as well as green board interior walls.  The wine room’s walls were also painted with latex paint of the homeowner’s choice of color.

We supplied a special wine cellar door with operable wrought iron in red oak.  We custom matched the stain color to the existing kitchen cabinets to create a seamless and great look.

The custom wine racking design was custom manufactured in mahogany and finished with a clear satin lacquer.  We used a waterfall rack on the left side of the wine storage area.  A solid double-deep ‘X’ bin with tabletop, finished off with a horizontal display rack. 750 ml individual bottle racks with a high reveal display row.  We included a tall single deep solid horizontal display rack on the right wall, under the grill cover and box which hides the cooling system.

2012 Dallas Builders Association ARC Awards

The Dallas Builders Association, originally chartered in 1944, is a local trade association representing all segments of the residential building industry in the Metropolitan Dallas area. Their mission, to enhance their members’ ability to provide safe, affordable, quality housing to citizens in local communities is one we are proud to add value to.  The Association is chartered by the State of Texas as a non-profit trade organization.

The Dallas Builders Association Primary Activities Include:

  • Promoting positive public policy through active participation in the legislative and regulatory processes
  • Providing industry information and education to the members and the public
  • Enhancing the positive image of the industry and the members through training and encouraging ethical behavior and professional standards
  • Making membership in the Association an essential element of a successful residential building industry company.

Types of Wine Cork & Preserving Wine in a Wine Cellar

Residential custom wine cellars are a place for you as an avid wine collector, to display your wine collection as well as to store and age your wines over time.  As your wine collection grows your wine cellar is likely to have a mix of wines from different regions, wines that you will want to age over the longer term and some that will be intended to be consumed over a much shorter period.

As part of the management of your wine cellar there are many factors that can influence the preservation and aging of wine.  In this article we are going to discuss the role different types of cork can play in this process.

Cork is used in a variety of products, the most common of which being the wine cork. It is considered the most suitable material for bottle stoppers on wine bottles because of its structure and component materials. The mechanical and physical properties that make cork the most preferred wine bottle closure include resiliency, low density, impermeability, flexibility, temperature and age stability, adherence and biodegradability.

Wine cork is essential to the graceful aging of wines in your wine cellar. It prevents oxygen from spoiling the wine in subsequent storage.

In order for cork to serve its purpose in wine storage, wines should be positioned in wine racks the right way. It is also essential to use the ideal wine cellar cooling units to ensure that the right humidity level in the wine cellar is maintained. This will prevent the cork from drying out and shrinking, thus reducing the possibility of oxidation, which causes wine spoilage.

There are different types of wine corks used by winemakers. The most well-known are the natural wine corks. These wine corks are derived from the best quality cork oak periderm or bark and are washed, carefully inspected for flaws, sterilized and printed.

natural wine corks

Natural Wine Corks are Perfect for Long-Term Wine Storage in Your Home Wine Room

Natural wine corks enable wine to mature slowly because they are able to seal it for a considerable length of time. They are most suitable for bold red wines intended for long term storage.

Corks which are popular for their affordability are agglomerated wine corks. They are low cost because they are made from clean natural cork grains. These grains are formed into dense corks by mixing them with food grade glue. They assure good sealing for wines intended to be stored from 12-18 months.

 

Agglomerated Wine Corks

Agglomerated Wine Corks are Ideal for Short-Term Wine Storage (12-18 months)

Another type of wine cork that fits ice wine bottles with a narrow neck is the ice wine natural cork. These corks are smaller than natural wine corks and are specifically sized to withstand high sugar content.

Pore-filled natural wine corks are called colmated wine corks. Their pores, or, lenticels, are preserved carefully with cork dust or cork grains. These grains are gathered and attached to the lenticels of colmated cork stoppers by using rubber glues (FDA authorized) or natural resin glues.

Colmated Wine Corks

Colmated Wine Corks are Pore-filled Natural Wine Corks

Synthetic wine corks are considered to provide a good seal to wines since they don’t harbor bacteria, which is why some wineries prefer to use this type of cork. The advantage of synthetic wine corks is their availability to be manufactured in different colors, thus allowing flexibility in packaging.

Synthetic Wine corks

Synthetic Wine Corks can be Manufactured in Different Colors

Double disc corks, also known as 1+1 corks or twin pop corks, are a combination of natural corks and agglomerated corks. The main advantage of this type of cork is the consistency in quality, density, price and function which make double disc corks widely used in bottling commercial wines.

Double Disc Wine Corks

Double Disc Wine Corks are a Combination of Natural Corks and Agglomerated Corks.

When selecting wine for long term preservation and aging of your wines in your custom wine cellar, take into account the type of cork that was used to seal the wine and when making this decision.  Wines that have been sealed with low-end porous corks are likely to be less suitable for long term storage.

Non-Grape-Based Wines a Good Addition to Custom Wine Cellars?

Besides grapes, there are many other fruits that can be made into surprisingly delicious wines. Wine collectors, often with whole room residential custom wine cellars dedicated to their collections are finding these can make a great addition to the diversity of their collections.

Non-Grape-Based Wines

Non-Grape-Based Wines

Just about every country in the world has at least one winery that produces alternative fruit wines. There are locations all around the world, such as Massachusetts in the USA, where grapes can’t grow due to their climate.

Crops typically used in making fruit wines include apples, plums, raspberries, cherries, peaches, blackberries, pineapples, pears, and even watermelons. Should you attempt to make these types of wines yourself it’s important to make sure you pick overripe fruits but avoid those with too many bruises.

Fruit wines can be made from any plant matter capable of being fermented. In order to achieve the desired taste and aroma, some of these products need honey or sugar to be added to them. Fruit winemaking involves many of the same techniques used in making grape wines. When made commercially there is a machine that gets rid of the stalks and washes off the bugs etc. and in some wineries, the juice is separated from the skins through a crusher.

The fruit juice is then put into a fermenting container. Yeast can be found naturally in some fruits (such as grapes) and can also be produced through laboratory processes on other fruits. Yeast consumes the available sugar in juice and converts that sugar into 50% alcohol. The process called Chaptalization helps increase the alcohol content of the finished wine.

The fermentation process then begins. Most winemakers leave the pulp in the juice for the first 7 days to add character and deepen the wine’s color.

In the process of making fruit wines, there are necessary adjustments that must be made to the acidity of the fruit juice, the amount of fruit used per gallon, and the amount of available sugar. Sometimes, tannin or acid must be added to balance the taste, thus producing great tasting fruit wines at the standard you expect for your wine cellar.

The wine-making hydrometer is a device that not only helps determine the amount of sugar in your juice but the amount of sugar needed to provide the sweetness you want in your wine and the amount of alcohol that sugar can produce as well.

Typically non-grape-based wines cannot be stored for a very long time. Some need to be consumed within 12 months of their products because they lack the natural yeast present in grapes. This potentially limited aging and life span should be taken into account when racking in your wine room. In order to promote further fermentation, phosphorus, nitrogen or potassium must be added.

An example of fruit wine is plum wine, which is famous in Korea and Japan. Other popular fruit wines include pineapple wine, cherry wine, banana wine, raspberry wine, and apple wine.

Fruit wines are perfect for any occasion, an excellent addition to your wine rooms‘ selection and can provide unique flavors and aromas. You can even make fruit wines at home by following simple winemaking processes.

Start Your Own Wine Collection – We are Here to Help

Wine collecting is an interest that is slowly gaining popularity among wine consumers of different social classes. There are two reasons why most people venture into acquiring their own vintages: one is for-profit as they can eventually sell their collection down the line, and second is a passion for great tasting wines wherein having their own collection allows them to personally enjoy a nice bottle or share it with friends at any given time.

Custom Wine Cellar – Perfect for Storage of your Wine Collection

Whatever your purpose is, Wine Cellar SPecialists is here to help you along the way. Here are some tips we’ve gathered for you:

Storing a few bottles is a great way to kick off your collection as you can gradually increase the number of your vintages in the long run. Proper wine storage is of great importance to your wine collection as this can spell the difference between preserving the quality of your vintages and spoilage.

When deciding where to store your wine collection, you should take into account the three factors that can greatly influence the condition of your wines: light, temperature, and humidity.

Bright lights can interfere with the chemical compounds in wines which can alter its quality and taste; hence it is essential to store them in places where they are left untouched by the damaging effects of rays of light.

Temperature and humidity levels should be maintained at 50-55°F and within 60-75% respectively. In addition, keeping your wine in areas free of vibratory motion is a must since the slightest motion can have adverse effects on your wine. Storing your wine collection in an ideal environment ensures that your wine retains its excellent quality and at the same time keeps its label in pristine condition.

There are several options available for storing your wine collection. Converting your basement or garage into a wine cellar is one of them, and by installing a wine cellar cooling system in the room guarantees that the right temperature and humidity levels are maintained at all times.

If building a wine cellar in your home is not within your budget, then you can invest in a good quality wine cooler. Wine coolers have ample space to store quite a few wine bottles and it can mimic the ideal conditions required for proper wine storage.

Purchasing wine racks is another option. Wine racks are constructed out of wood, metal, or steel. They also come in a myriad of impressive designs that can certainly complement any kitchen or room in your household.

Curved Corner Standard Wine Rack

Curved Corner Standard Wine Rack – Elegant Wine Storage Furniture for your Wines

If you want a professional to look after your wine collection, then professional refrigeration is the best choice for you. A wine storage locker can be leased for your convenience and a wine expert is in charge of maintaining your wine bottles, for a price, of course.

The safety of your wine collection should also be taken into account. Keep in mind that the value of your wine increases as it ages, therefore it is imperative to take the necessary precautions for the safekeeping of your vintages. Having your bottles of wine insured is one way of doing that.

Should you decide to expand your wine collection, there are wine retailers and vineyards that often grant buyers a reduced price when acquiring wines in bulk. However, it is recommended that you try one bottle first or, better yet, check out wine reviews online before you make a big purchase.

Furthermore, visiting different vineyards and signing up for their mailing list will avail you of discounts in the future.

Why “Seal” my wine cellar? – Custom Wine Cellars Texas

Why do I need to “Seal” my wine cellar?

Only this week I was confronted by a builder in Texas who was showing me the room that he was turning into a custom wine cellar for his customer.

He mentioned he knew about adding the correct vapor barrier and insulation. Then, in the next breath, he said “and I am leaving ½” open below the door so that the room gets good air circulation!”

 Air circulation coming from the next room in your home into your wine cellar is exactly what you do NOT want.

Your wine cellar must be sealed like a package. See How to Build Your Wine Cellar. The reason for the vapor barrier is to ensure that the temperature and humidity inside the room, controlled by your wine cellar cooling units, is kept at a lower temperature and higher humidity than in the rest of your home.

To age and preserve wine properly you need to maintain a very stable temperature of 55 to 60 degrees and 50 to 70 percent humidity inside your wine cellar. Leaving a gap under the door allows the cold air to escape and warm air to enter the room, creating difficulty maintaining the correct temperature and humidity. All air going into our coming out of the room should be going through the wine cellar climate control system you have chosen.

Yes, it is possible to maintain the room’s temperature and humidity with this gap. However, you will need a larger wine cellar cooling unit and your unit will run longer, causing an increase in expense to the homeowner’s electric bill.

The gap under the door is the most often cause of cooling loss in a wine cellar!

An easy remedy is to install an exterior door with the same weather stripping you would use if the door were to the outside. Another remedy is to install a door with an automatic door bottom. The doors offered by the award-winning Wine Cellar Specialists have the option of the wood threshold or the automatic door bottom at no additional charge. This is highly recommended.

Wine Cellar Design Basics – Remember:
1. Seal any gaps.
2. A vapor barrier is absolutely necessary.
3. The more insulation, the better.

Want to learn more? See some of our completed wine cellar builders custom wine cellars installed in Texas. Or ready to get started? Simply fill in this wine cellar design request and we will create a design for you FREE of charge and without obligation! Kick-off your wine cellar conversion today!

Wine Industry Businesses – Custom Wine Cellars Related – About

As custom wine cellar design and construction specialists, we frequently come across businesses that offer services that we believe are likely to be of particular interest to our clients and customers who have had built or have an interest in custom wine cellars, commercial wine racks, wine displays, and wine generally. If fact we have often been asked to provide a list or a recommendation. To that end, we have created a Custom Wine Cellars Related Business Listings page.

Learn more about:

Small Business Accountants Fort Collins

Steven J Wick & Associates PC

2809 E. Harmony Rd. Suite 120
Fort Collins, CO 80528
(970) 224-3366

Please note – Custom Wine Cellars Related Business Listing Disclaimer

The businesses listed at the link above are a mix of companies that we like, do business with ourselves, have been recommended to us or are just simply aware of. Businesses listed on our “Custom Wine Cellars Related Business Listings” page should not be construed as a personal or business recommendation. They are simply there for your convenience and as a way for us to share information with you.

We may or may not have commercial relationships with these companies. We may or may not receive affiliate commissions as a result of your following the links and ultimately purchasing a product or services from them. We can say that if there is an affiliate relationship, it will in no way affect the pricing you receive from that company.

Our criteria for listing a business is that in our opinion we believe the business is relevant to the wine industry and of potential interest to wine lovers, collectors, and owners of wine-related businesses.

If you are interested in having your business listed, simply email your request to WineCellarBuilders@CustomWineCellarsLosAngeles.com and put “Wine Cellar Specialists – Wine Industry Business Listings” in the title, don’t forget to include a link to your website! We reserve the right to accept or refuse a listing at our discretion.

Custom Wine Cellars – What you need to know about the flooring

Wine Cellar Floors

Floor Preparation

When thinking about the flooring for custom wine cellars, you should remember that as part of a climate controlled room it must be prepared properly. This is an area that some people make the mistake of ignoring when creating a wine cellar in their home. If the floor in your cellar is above ground, you must add the same vapor barrier and insulation that you do to your walls and ceiling. Remember, the wine room must be wrapped up tight like a package. If your floor is on a cement slab which rests on the ground, you can get away with adding a vapor barrier only to the cement before applying your floor covering.

We recommend a product called Bostic’s MVP4. It is a Moisture Vapor Protection that is applied with a trowel and left to dry before adding your floor on top.  It is usually available at your local hardware store. Once the moisture barrier is in place, you can add a plywood base or add your flooring directly on top of the vapor barrier.

Flooring Materials for Custom Wine Cellars

What you use for your actual wine cellar flooring material is up to you, as long as you stay away from anything resembling carpet. Carpet or carpet-like materials can mold or mildew in the higher humidity of a wine cellar. Slate, stone, tiles of many materials are fine in a wine cellar. Engineered wood floors are also great for traditional wine cellar designs. However, do careful of wood flooring unless it has previously been aged in a humid environment.

For a particularly special looking custom wine cellar floor reclaimed wine barrel flooring is an excellent choice and becoming more widely used in wine cellars. It is oak and made by master craftsmen from real oak wine barrels that are between 6 and 50 years old. Because these barrels previously held wine, the wood has already been exposed to extreme humidity levels. The barrels are sent through a process that implements a variety of specialized techniques to create an olde world style product line. The flooring can be glued or nailed over an area that has been prepared with a vapor barrier.

 

Three separate styles are available. The Cooperage flooring is made from the barrel head with all of its patina, cooperage stamps and special markings. The Wine Infusion flooring is made from the inside of the wine barrels where the wood has been naturally stained by the wine during the maturation process. The Stave flooring is created using the outside of the wine barrels. When the outside hoops are removed they leave behind distinctive markings and texture.

The wine barrel flooring is a statement of style and brings the history and aged beauty of wine into the personality of your wine cellar. A real conversation piece, this reclaimed wine barrel product is also available in drop-in ready tabletops and counter-tops.

Cork flooring is another great way to create a wine cellar floor. It is durable and very inexpensive. It is what you call a “floating floor” installation. Cork flooring comes in tongue and groove pieces that snap together and are held in place with a simple molding. Several styles, patterns and colors are available.

Both reclaimed wine barrel flooring and cork flooring are very unique and obvious ways to say “this is my special and unique wine cellar”.

Custom Wine Cellar Builders Contractors Installers Chicago Illinois

Check out this sneak peek of a new residential custom wine cellars builders project we recently completed in Naperville a location near Chicago Illinois. As Full Service Wine Cellar Builders, Contractors, and Installers we love building and designing beautiful custom wine cellars, wine tasting rooms and simple closet conversions like this example job. For the full story, interesting before and after images go to custom wine cellars design Chicago.

Custom Wine Cellar Builders Contractors & Installers Chicago Illinois

Custom Wine Cellar Contractors Chicago

Naperville is a smaller city just outside Chicago Illinois. Interestingly it has been voted as the best place to live in the United States several times, even at one time making it to the number two best place to live position. As a smaller U.S. city with a population of around 142,000 (2010), it is actually quite an affluent city with numerous corporate headquarters located in the downtown area. Surprisingly in a 2010 article, Naperville was named as the wealthiest city in the Midwest!  As Custom Wine Cellar Builders it should be no surprise therefore that we maintain a local presence of Wine Cellar Contractors in Naperville, Chicago, and Illinois generally.
If you live in one of these areas and are considering converting an unused room into a Wine Tasting Room or Custom Wine Cellar simply call us Toll-Free: at (866) 646-7089 or complete a FREE Wine Cellar Designs form and we will create a stunning 3D CAD Design Package tailored to your specific requirements without obligation and completely free of charge.

Make your Home Stand Out From The Crowd with a Custom Wine Cellar

To Cool or Not to Cool? (my Wine Cellar) That is the Question! #3

Part Three – Custom Wine Cellars and your home value and desirability

A wine cellar can add considerable value as both a practical room and a unique feature to set your home apart from others. While the primary purpose of building a custom wine cellar should probably be for your own private enjoyment, it can also increase desirability. Upgrades to homes are important to set them apart. Once only found in the very high-end home market, stunning custom wine cellars, are amongst the most nascent additions and ‘must-haves’ for the luxury homes mid-market. They are particularly appreciated in large homes situated in upscale neighborhoods.

3. Am I interested in my wine cellar increasing the value of my home or business?

A room with wine racks is a place to store wine bottles for a limited period of time. A climate-controlled wine cellar with a Wine Cellar Refrigeration System is a place to store your wine collection for future enjoyment or investment. This type of wine cellar is also a good investment in your home or business…increasing the market value of your property.

Make your Home Stand Out From The Crowd with a Custom Wine Cellar

If you are still unsure whether to add a cooling system to your wine cellar but want to get started with your project, at the very least, prepare the room for the future climate control possibility. Add the proper amount of insulation and a vapor barrier in the walls, floor, and ceiling. (See How To Build Your Wine Cellar)

Do your homework or consult a Wine Cellar Specialist to suggest the best method of cooling your space. Then, add the necessary electrical and drain lines when preparing your walls so that your room is ready if cooling is added at a later time.

How to Make the Most Out of Your Texas Home wine cellar

So you’ve decided to build a home wine cellar. Or, you already have one. Great. You know you’re a serious wine collector when you have a wine cellar in your home. Not only do you have a safe place in which to let your collection age and gain in value, but you also have a great place to take guests coming over for dinner. Let them wander in your cellar, maybe even select the wine you’re serving with dinner. Or, rather, select the wine with them.

Proper Wine Storage Tips

proper wine storageBut as with anything, there is good storage and there is bad storage.

Good storage can help protect your wine while bad storage and destroy your wine in no time at all.

Make sure that doesn’t happen to you by following these simple rules for storing wine in your home (whether in a home wine cellar or in your kitchen).

Wine Should Not be Exposed to Excessive Heat

Wine should be stored in dark places. Don’t let the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays get to your wine.

These rays can damage your wine and, in some cases, make it undrinkable. That’s why most experts suggest storing wine in a Texas home wine cellar, or, lacking that, on a rack that you’re able to keep in an out-of-the-way place.

Your wine storage space must be installed with the proper lighting system. Seek the help of an expert to ensure that your wine cellar lighting does not emit too much heat.

Keep Wine Away from Vibration

Believe it or not, vibrations (like what you’d feel in a room abutting a garage with a door that opens and closes electrically) aren’t good for your wine. Where you store your wine should be as free of vibrations as possible.

Too much vibration can accelerate the chemical reactions in the wine. It can disturb the sediments in wine and may ruin the complex flavours and aromas of the wine. Building a wine cellar near any equipment, machinery, or appliance is not recommended.

Temperature and Humidity Must be Regulated

temperature and humidity in Texas wine cellarsThe temperature and humidity of the place where you store your wine are critical for best protecting it. If you can use or have access to a hygrometer, great.

The humidity in the room where you store your wine should be between 50 and 75 percent. If you realize that the humidity is low, do something about it. Install a humidifier, if you’re storing wine in a room as opposed to a cellar. And if you’re storing wine in a climate-controlled cellar, your unit will already get rid of excess humidity.

Keep in mind that wrong humidity levels can cause moisture build up in your Texas home wine cellar. When this happens, your wine room can be a breeding ground for moulds and mildew. These fungi can damage your wine labels, the quality of your wines, as well as the integrity of your racking.

In the rare cases where you need to add humidity, a wine cellar humidifier can be installed or use the poor man’s method… add a small container of water across the room from the cooling unit. The moisture will be drawn up through the air as the unit tries to rid the room of excess humidity. Problem solved.

As for temperature, your wine should be stored in at approximately 55 degrees. Make sure you can control the temperature in the space where you are storing your wine. Most climate control systems come pre-set at 55 so you do not have to adjust.

When the temperature is not regulated, wine cannot preserve its desirable characteristics. Very low or very high temperatures can cause unpleasant tastes in wine.

Choose Quality Wine Racks Manufactured by an Expert

Florida wine racks

Beautiful Wine Racks System

The way you rack your wine is also important. Did you know that if you have a display row where your wine is stored at an angle, it should be at no more than a 15-degree angle so the cork stays moist? If you buy pre-made racks, make sure this is possible.

If you’re having racks built, make sure your builder knows what he or she is doing. It is best to hire a company who specializes in wine cellars. Even then, be aware that all of the manufacturers do not make their racks with the same quality or specifications.

Also, make sure that your wine rack system is designed with features that will enhance your drinking experience with family and friends. Your chosen builder should assess all your functional and aesthetic requirements. This will help them create a Texas home wine cellar that will store and display your favourite vintages safely and beautifully.  See quality wine racks offered by a master builder.

Organize Your Collection Effectively

wine invenntory system Texas eSommelier

e-Sommelier Wine Inventory System

Finally, you have to keep your wine storage organized. The organization is key to a good wine storage system. Store your wine by category or by collection. Keep a written record of what you have and where you are storing it.

Depending on your collection, you may be doing this for insurance reasons anyway. If you have a large collection you might want to invest in a computerized inventory control system. It really is the best way to make the most of your storage system.

A Wine Storage Specialist Can Build a Safe and Attractive Wine Room for You

With the help of a master builder, you can have a Texas home wine cellar designed to store your collection properly. Planning to start your wine room project? Wine Cellar Specialists can help you! Contact them today at +1 (866 )646-7089 or request a 3D wine cellar design for FREE!

 

Wine Cellars – Design & Efficiency

After deciding to build a wine cellar in your home (or have one built), you should look at the cellar’s overall efficiency first. How the wine cellar will look, and whether or not it will match how the rest of your house looks, should be a secondary concern.

Wine Cellars – Design & Efficiency

Of course, design isn’t an afterthought, but at the end of the day, the colors you use in your wine cellar, if you use colors, will not help you protect and store your wine collection.

Making sure your cellar is efficient means that your wine cooling unit must be the proper size for the room and emit the proper BTU’s to efficiently cool the room according to your specific conditions. (see other blog posts for information on cooling unit options)

Your cooling unit, more than likely, is going to look and sound very different from what you might be thinking. Depending upon which type of unit you can use in your situation, the look of your cooling unit could vary greatly.

Selecting the right Wine Cellar Cooling Units

climate control system Texas

Wine Cellar Climate-Control System

When you pick your wine cellar cooling unit, there is usually an external temperature display on it. The wine cellars’ cooling unit will help you monitor and regulate your wine cellar’s temperature. With some units this display can be placed in a spot inside or outside of your wine cellar.

On others, it is attached to the unit itself. This temperature display will show you how hot or cold your cellar is, and if the temperature fluctuates out of your preset range, it will “tell” the cooling unit to readjust the temperature inside the cellar. This should happen automatically.

Because your wine cellar, as one expert puts it, is “dark and damp,” always install moisture-resistant materials during the build-out of the project. These materials can be covered with a latex paint.

Types of Wine Cooling Systems for Texas Custom Wine Cellars

Depending on how you plan to use your wine cellar (is it for an investment, or do you plan to drink the bottles of wine you will store in your cellar), you will want to choose the best cooling option for you. Wine Cellar Specialists can help you decide the system to put in place in your home.

Through the Wall or Self-Contained Units

self-contained wine cooling system

Self-Contained Cooling System

When it comes to practicality and ease of installation, the self-contained or through the wall cooling system is a top choice. Since this cooling option does not require a licensed HVAC/R technician, it will save you from the labor cost. The unit can be mounted between the wall studs.

An adjacent room, which must be at least twice the size of the cellar, is required. It serves as an exhaust of the heat generated by the refrigeration unit.

Ducted Self-Contained Systems

ducted self-contained refrigeration system

Ducted Self-Contained System

With a ducted self-contained unit, noise is reduced. The unit is installed 25 ducted feet away from your Texas custom wine cellar, resulting in a quieter operation compared to the self-contained system.

Another advantage of choosing this type of refrigeration system is that no cooling equipment is visible in your wine storage space. If you want a clean look in your cellar, go for the ducted self-contained system.  

Split Refrigeration Systems

split wine cooling system

Split Refrigeration Systems

Just like the ducted-self-contained cooling system, the split system allows for quiet operation. The condenser and the evaporator are installed separately. The condenser, which is a noisy component of a refrigeration system, is installed outside your wine cellar, while the evaporator is placed in the room.

Incorporating a wine cellar into your house is not overly complicated. Doing it right means taking your time, focusing on efficiency, and making sure you have the right people helping you make the right decisions that will best protect your investment and give you your desired result.

Uses for a Wine Cellar in the Home

home wine cellar Texas

You Can Have a Functional and Appealing Home Wine Cellar with the Help of an Expert

If you have asked yourself if you need a wine cellar in your home, then you already have your answer. Just asking the question means that you have gone beyond the normal wine drinker who may have a few bottles on hand for the occasional dinner party or night in.

Because a home wine cellar (and, let’s face it, wine) is an investment, you should be thinking about the type of custom wine cellar you want in your home, not just whether you want one.

Your wine cellar should grow with you and your collection, and unless you’re not planning to sell your home, then your wine room should be built in such a way that it will appeal to someone other than you.

A Residential Custom Wine Cellar may be a nice incentive for someone buying a home, so make sure it has broad appeal.

One benefit to having a wine cellar of your own, is it allows you to buy wine in bulk. Wine by the case is less expensive than one or two bottles.

Wine by the case is also less expensive when it is young, and if you know wine (and if you want a wine cellar in your home, then you must know wine), these young wines, once mature, will taste better and result in a larger return on your investment. It also allows you to purchase larger quantities of a wine that you discover and particularly enjoy, to assure that you will be able to have a stock of it for the future.

Home Wine Room Chicago

How will you use your wine cellar (in other words, what prompted you to ask the question in the first place?)? Will you use it strictly for storage, will you also use it as a tasting room, or is it to be a showplace? How you plan to use it is important to know, because that can affect the way you construct your room, or at least the size of it and how the racking is designed.

If your wine cellar will be used just for storage, then think about how many bottles of wine you currently have as well as how many bottles of wine you plan to accumulate.

Your cellar should be able to grow with you and your collection. Make sure you can maximize the bottle storage for the space you have. If you want a wine room and think that you just don’t have the space, look around at unused areas. Do you have a stairwell? And, if you do, can you build out underneath it? Unused closets? Maybe you use it to build out a cellar.

Residential Wine Cellars Designed and Installed by Wine Cellar Specialists in Texas and Chicago

VintageView Wine Cellars, Metal with Wood Coppel TX Project – Near Dallas

custom wine cellar Coppel Texas

Metal and Wood Custom Wine Cellar in Texas

This contemporary home wine cellar is located under the curved staircase. The racking is made of metal and wood, resulting in a unique wine storage space.

Chevis Home Wine Cellar with a Rolling Ladder – Dallas, Texas

Installed with attractive mahogany wine racks, this residential wine cellar aesthetically appealing and offers great features. A rolling ladder was added for easy access to bottles stored beyond normal reach.

Contemporary Custom Wine Cellar – White Rock Lake Area, Dallas, Texas

This modern design was created by Wine Cellar Specialists for their client in Dallas, Texas. The metal wine racks from Vintage View are mounted on the wall, creating a sophisticated custom wine display.

Dave Custom Wine Cellar with Barrel Table – Palos Heights Chicago Illinois

Located in the basement, this home wine cellar displays the owner’s wines in unfinished redwood wine racks. A wine barrel table was added to add a distinct look to the wine room.

An Efficient Wine Refrigeration System is Essential for Proper Home Wine Storage

wine cooling systems for Texas and Chicacago wine cellars

Wine Refrigeration Systems

Where you build the room will be dictated by the ability to install your climate control system. Controlling the temperature is critical to ensuring your collection is protected and continues to grow in value.

When the ideal temperature (55-65 degrees Fahrenheit) is maintained in a cellar, wine will not be oxidized. Oxidation causes off flavors and discoloration in wine.

Additionally, an efficient wine cooling system also regulates humidity levels need in preserving wine’s quality. Humidity levels higher or lower than the normal range (60-70%) will damage the corks and wine labels.

View the different types and brands of wine cooling systems.

If you have considered building a wine cellar in your home, then don’t ask yourself if you should build one; ask, instead, how big you want it to be and what will go inside of it.

Wine racks are the framework of your custom wine cellar.

Whether you are building your wine cellar for storage or display, you must take into consideration what kind of racking system you want. Wine racks make your wine cellar collection organized. A well-organized collection of wine is not only pleasing to the eyes but it’s also practical for the owner. You won’t have a hard time trying to find any particular wine you want in your collection.

What wine rack should you use for your custom wine cellar?

Enhance the appearance of your wine cellar with a wooden rack.

Revamp your custom wine cellar with a wooden wine rack.

Wine racking systems come in all shapes and sizes. There are two major types of wine racks. First, there’s the wooden rack. Then, there’s the metallic racking system. What material to use depends on your preference, how large your wine collection, and the reason you are building a wine cellar.

Wooden racks are good insulators. These racks lessen the heat going through your wine bottles. This feature is favorable since heat could trigger premature spoilage of your wines. And, wooden racks give your wine cellar a classy and traditional look.

Metallic racks, on the other hand, give your custom wine cellar a modern and contemporary look. These racks are known for their durability and strength. Given they are installed in an optimum wine cellar condition, metallic racks are easy to maintain.

Whether you’ll be using your custom wine cellar for storage or display, making a well-informed decision on what wine rack to use could make the most of the functionality for each variant.