Category Archives: wine cooling units

What to Look for When Choosing a Wine Cabinet for Your Texas Home or Business

Wine cabinets are great options for collectors who do not have the right budget and/or space for a wine cellar. They can keep your wines at the right temperature and humidity levels. You just have to make sure that your wine cabinet is manufactured by a trusted wine storage specialist. Know the advantages of wine cabinets and learn some tips in choosing the right storage unit for you.

The Benefits of Using a Wine Cabinet to Store Your Collection

Wine Cabinet with Built-In Wine Cooling Unit

Wine cabinets have been a popular choice for residential and commercial spaces. Units with built-in cooling system function like climate-controlled wine cellars. This means that you don’t need to spend on the construction of a full wine cellar to protect your wines from the damaging environmental factors.

They are also equipped with functional features, affordable, sophisticated, and space-efficient, making them ideal storage options for limited spaces, small collections, and tight budgets.

Wine Cellar Specialists, a wine storage expert in Texas, offers quality and efficient refrigerated wine cabinets. You may opt for a freestanding, countertop, or built-in unit. Their wine cabinets are manufactured by Le Cache, Climadiff, and Vinotheque. They can help you choose the most suitable style of wine cabinet depending on your needs.

Things to Look for When Choosing a Wine Cabinet for Your Home or Business.

Refrigerated Wine Cabinet by Wine Cellar Specialists Texas

These are just a few.

  1. How many bottles do you want to store? Make sure the wine cabinet is big enough not only for the bottles you currently have but for twice that amount… as your collection will grow once you have proper wine storage.
  2. Be sure that the niche size for the bottles in the cooler is large enough. Some coolers out there only allow room for an average size of 750 bottles. If you have Pinots or larger odd-shaped bottles, they may not fit. You want at least 3 3/4″ of space.
  3. Be sure you research the quality of the manufacturer. Make sure that you are purchasing a unit that will last.
  4. Check to see if your wine cooling unit also has humidity control.
  5. Depending on where you plan to place the cooler… you may want one with both cooling and heating capabilities.
  6. Look not only at function but style. Do you want a furniture look or something more refrigerator looking?
  7. Look at the warranty. Some manufacturers will pay for parts and labor for a specific period of time. Others only parts. Some will require them in house service people make all recommendations for service under their warranties. Others pay for in-house service through a network of technicians. Warranty time frames also vary.
  8. Do you want metal or wood wine racks? Do you want individual niches or shelves? Do you want them stationary or rolling? This is a matter of personal choice and look.
  9. wine cabinet by Wine Cellar Specialists Texas

    Credenza Wine Cabinets by Le Cache

    Are you planning on placing this in an open space or in a niche? How high are your ceilings? These things will determine if you can go with a rear venting unit, a top venting unit, or a front venting unit.

  10. Do you want a single temperature unit for storage or a multi-temperature unit for storage and drinking temps?
  11. Do you want a unit with a built-in wine cooling system or a self-contained system? There are pros and cons to each.
  12. What is your price range? It is always better to spend a little more to get a quality unit than to go cheap and be disappointed when the unit is poor quality and does not last. Wine cabinets can range from $500-600 for a small inexpensive unit to $10,000-$12,000 or more for a large deluxe furniture model.

For additional help in choosing the best wine cabinet for you, call us at

Wine Cellar Specialists:

Dallas Texas: 972-454-0480      

Chicago Illinois: 773-234-0112     

Toll-Free: 866-646-7089

What You Must Know About Building a Texas Home Wine Cellar in a Basement

Wine cannot age gracefully if stored in poor conditions. It should be stored in an environment where the temperature and humidity are stable. The basement is an ideal place to build a Texas home wine cellar because it is the cooler area of your home. However, always keep in mind that important components must be installed in order to achieve the optimum conditions needed by wine to mature properly.     

Requirements in Building a Basement Wine Cellar in Texas

basement wine cellar

Basement Wine Cellar

Wine needs a cool environment to preserve its quality. Too much heat exposure can ruin wine’s flavour, aroma, and overall complexity.

The basement of your home can be an ideal place to store wine.

You can build a complete wine cellar in your basement, which is usually a cooler part of the house as compared to other rooms at the ground level. It is easier for builders to stabilize the temperature and humidity in basement wine cellars. A custom wine cellar in your basement can be made in any size that you have the space available.

Lighting System and Wine Cooling System

Texas wine cellar lighting and cooling

Wine Cellar Lighting and Wine Cooling System

While planning your basement wine cellar, also remember that it would require some lighting and a cooling unit. Lighting is an important part of the wine cellar ambience. Led lighting and recessed air lock ceiling lights often work well in custom wine cellars for the home.

At Wine Cellar Specialists, we recommend the LED lighting system. It is known for its low heat emission, which can protect wine from being damaged.

Standard lighting fixtures are not ideal for illuminating wine storage spaces because they emit too much heat.

A dedicated circuit for cooling unit will need to be available or installed. The wine refrigeration system plays a very important role in wine ageing. Using standard home air conditioners can result in wine oxidation.

Oxidized wines have an unpleasant flavour and smell. You don’t want your favourite vintages to become undrinkable due to temperature fluctuations and unstable humidity levels. Investing in a quality wine refrigeration unit is recommended.

Wine Cellar Specialists offers commercial-grade wine cooling systems from trusted manufacturers: Wine Guardian, WhisperKool, CellarPro, and US Cellar Systems.

Proper Insulation for Texas Wine Cellars

Texas wine cellar insulationComplete construction of the walls, floor and ceiling with a vapour barrier and the proper amount of insulation must occur. Make sure you are adding the correct wine cellar door to completely seal the room.

Proper insulation of refrigerated wine cellars is important because it can prevent moisture build-up. A poorly insulated cellar will force your cooling unit to work harder and may result in breakdowns and high-energy bills.

Seek Professional Help for Your Next Project.

The help of professional wine cellar designers can make it a lot easier to create beautiful and safe wine rooms. At Wine Cellar Specialists, we have years of experience in designing residential wine cellars. If you want to have a wine cellar, you can use any spare room in your home, such as your basement. Our creativity and passion in building climate-controlled wine cellars helped us complete installation projects with satisfaction.

Call us today at +1 (866 ) 646-7089 get the best wine cellars at the most affordable prices, or request a 3D custom design for FREE!

The Right Wine Cellar Storage Conditions for Aging Wine

Wine will not last long if stored in poor conditions. It needs to be kept in an environment where temperature and humidity are regulated. Which is why it is important that you invest in a Texas wine cellar installed with the right components. This will make wine collecting more enjoyable. In this article, you will learn how the ideal storage conditions will help wine mature properly in your Texas home wine cellar.

Vital Components in Wine Cellar Construction

wine cellar insulation

Proper Wine Cellar Insulation Must be Installed by a Specialist

As you probably know, the cooling unit you put in place in your Texas home wine cellar will help to determine how your wine will be when you decide to open and drink it.

Getting Expert Opinion on Wine Cellar Storage Conditions

Before your begin your installation project, consult with a Wine Cellar Specialist to determine the exact cooling unit that will be best for your circumstance and have them do a heat load calculation.

Heat Load Calculations Give Most Accurate Account of Size of Cooling Unit Needed for Proper Conditions.

You cannot go just by cubic footage to properly size your unit. Many other factors are involved such as amount of glass, interior or exterior walls, what is above and below the cellar, type of insulation to be used, etc.

Without first doing a heat load calculation and figuring out which unit will work best for you, costly mistakes can be made that are very difficult to undo later down the road.

Before talking about the conditions under which to store red and white wine, let’s review what your cellar should have before you move in any wine.

Wine Cellar Preparations to Achieve Optimum Storage Conditions Needed for Proper Aging of Red and White Wine

There are several key steps in building a wine cellar that’s designed for ideal wine storage conditions.

Adding a Vapor Barrier

There are two ways to make sure your wine cellar has the proper vapor barrier:

  1. The old method, which we no longer recommend, is to add 6 mil plastic to the warm side of the cellar and fill the studs with batt insulation. This method can be easily compromised over time and years later, you could have moisture issues if the seams come apart or the plastic is penetrated.
  2. The recommended method is to use the correct thickness of closed cell foam. This acts as your vapor barrier as well as insulation. You must use a minimum of 3” on any interior walls. We recommend at least 5” on exterior walls, ceilings, and any floors that are not on slab. Any seams or double studs, etc, must also be polysealed correctly to eliminate any areas where moisture could penetrate. It is wise to have a specialist do the foam for you.

Adding a vapor barrier and insulation will depend on which method you are using. If using the plastic and batt method, you can install the plastic part before your cooling lines and electric are run. If using the foam method, DO NOT foam until the electric and cooling lines are installed.

Insulation of Walls and Ceiling

  • The proper insulation should then be installed in the walls and ceiling. When using the old method, you will get R-13 insulation in the walls and R-19 in the ceiling. If you use foam, you will get R-19 and R-30, which is better. The more insulation you add, the less work your cooling unit will have to do. This could save you money in the long run… so insulate well to achieve the perfect storage conditions in your wine cellar.
  • wine cooling systems Texas

    Cooling Systems are Essential in the Proper Aging of Wine

    • Before installing your walls, depending on the wine cooling unit you are using, you may want to run a drain line, your copper lines (if applicable) and be sure to wire for your electrical. All units will need a place to drain and must have a dedicated circuit for the compressor.
  • For the walls, you have a choice. You can use any moisture resistant material. You can put a ½” plywood down first to make it easier to attach your racking to the walls… recommended especially if using metal racking. Then add greenboard, or something similar. Another method is to add a heavy paneling such as a tongue and groove board or other board material that you might like to see in your room. Just make sure it is moisture resistant. If you are painting the walls, use a latex paint.

Installation of Wine Cooling System

  • Now install your cooling unit. Again, depending on the unit you use, you may need to hire a licensed HVACR contractor for this. An HVACR contractor is required for your warranty to be valid if you are using any split system.

These are very basic steps. Clearly, there is more to building a wine cellar in your home than the steps we list above, but we list them to give you an idea of the work involved in creating a space in your home that will preserve and help age wine in a room with ideal storage conditions.

A master wine cellar builder can help you throughout the process, from deciding the kind of cellar you want and where you want it to doing the actual work.

wine cellar racks Texas

The Right Type of Wine Racks is Important in Wine Storage

Proper Storage of Red and White Wines

wine storage Texas

Wine Cellar Specialists can Build the Proper Wine Storage Place for your Collection

Once your cellar is in place, you get to move on to the fun part – actually storing your wine. We will cover in a series of other blog posts the types of racks you can use in your cellar, but here, let’s briefly talk about the best wine cellar storage conditions for red and white wines.

Wine Storage Conditions The Same for Red and White Wine

Both red and white wines should be kept at the same storage temperature. They both react the same way to the same storage conditions.

Ideal storage conditions protect wine from harmful environmental factors, preserving its desirable characteristics.

Drinking Temperature For White Wine

Drinking temperature is a different issue. Keep in mind that serving wine too hot or too cold can result in flat flavors and aromas. The right serving temperature can help preserve the freshness and fruitiness of wine.

White wines may not be chilled enough in your wine cellar. Before serving white wine, take the wine out of your cellar and put it into an ice bucket before you are planning to serve it. Serving champagne? Definitely chill champagne on ice before serving it. If you add water to the ice, the wine will chill faster.

Importance of Optimum Storage and Serving Temperature in the Aging Process of Wine

wine storage

Red and White Wines Must be Stored at the Ideal Storage Temperature

The 55 degree wine storage temperature is equally important, if not more so, with your red wines. They typically are the wines that need more time to age before drinking. However, the 55 degrees is not the temperature you will want to drink your red wines at either.

The Right Drinking Temperature for Red Wine

Contrary to popular belief, red wine should not be served at normal room temperature. Depending upon the wine you are drinking, the ideal drinking temperature varies. There are may charts available online to help you along the way. When in doubt, serve the wine a few degrees cooler than room temperature. Richer aroma is released as the wine warms up to room temperature.

Cooling and the Aging Process of Wine

No wine should be served over 68 degrees F.  Keep in mind that the cooling process helps age your wine and will let you store it for longer periods of time than just putting it away elsewhere.

One unit can serve to store red and white and conditions ideal for them, but remember you may need to take an extra step (cooling or “warming”) before serving.

Essential Wine Accessories for Serving Wine

In addition to serving wine at the right temperature, you can invest in wine accessories to enhance your wine drinking experience.

Aerator

An aerator is a must-have gadget of wine enthusiasts. It is used to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in wine. This process is called aeration, which can help increase your pleasure of drinking your precious wines, especially young ones.

Aeration allows wine to be exposed to the right amount of air, giving wine a smoother texture and pleasant aromas.

Decanter

Wine Cellar Specialists Master Builders of Wine Storage Rooms Texas

Wine Cellar Specialists Master Builders of Wine Storage Rooms Texas

Another important wine cellar accessory is the decanter. The dark residuals in your glass or wine bottles are known as sediments. Before drinking wine, these sediments should be separated from the liquid to eliminate harsh flavors.

It is a common practice to let a bottle stand vertically for at least 24-36 hours prior to decanting. This will allow for easy decanting because the sediments will settle at the bottom of the bottle.

Other Tips in Serving Wine

  • When pouring wine, the wineglass must be on the table, not in your hand.
  • Use a bigger wine glass for reds, and smaller ones for whites.
  • Pour only 5-6 ounces of wine in a glass.

Contact a Wine Storage Expert

When it comes to providing wine the perfect wine storage conditions, you can rely on Wine Cellar Specialists. They have built climate-controlled wine cellars in Texas, Chicago, and Florida. Request a custom wine room design today or call them at +1 (866 ) 646-7089.

Wine Cellar Cooling Tips for Texas Wine Enthusiasts

So you’ve decided to build a wine cellar in your home. Do you know the environment to create in your wine cellar to best protect your wine? Learn all about it and more in this, the first in a series of blog posts about creating an ideal environment in your wine cellar.

Achieving Optimum Temperature and Humidity Levels for Graceful Wine Aging

Wine Guardian Cooling Unit in Attic

Wine Guardian Cooling Unit in a Teas Home Wine Cellar

Your Texas wine cellar should constantly be at a temperature of about 55 degrees. As important as temperature is, so is humidity. Keep the humidity in your wine cellar somewhere between 50 and 75 percent.

Too high of a humidity can cause mold and mildew and your labels to fall off. Too low a humidity can cause your corks to dry out, air can seep into your bottles, and your wine can be ruined.

Do you live in a low-humidity area? Some types of climate control units help to regulate your humidity by adding moisture, others simply get rid of excess humidity. Some wine cellar owners like to add a humidifier to their cellar while others might want a fountain.

The poor man’s method is a container of water across the room from the cooling unit. The unit will pull the moisture through the room. Most areas of the country do not need any type of humidification.

When cooling a Texas wine cellar with the liquid mass of the wine in the bottles, the humidity naturally rises. Your cellar will automatically have a higher humidity than it will have outside the room. The vapor barrier in the walls, floor and ceiling helps to keep the humidity inside the room. This is why most cooling units are made to get rid of the excess humidity.

Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Wine Cellar Cooling unit

Picking a wine cellar cooling unit is where you need to be sure to consult an expert. He or she is best able to help you pick something that will work for your wine cellar. Many things are considered when deciding what you can use.

  • Where in the house or building is the cellar located?
  • Do you want to see the unit or not?
  • Are you OK with hearing the unit or not?
  • How big is your wine room?
  • What is the amount of insulation in the room?
  • What is the type/style of wine cellar door installed?

The size of the room, the amount of insulation, even the style of the door being used are all factors in determining the size of unit you can use. Your cooling unit expert at Wine Cellar Specialists can do a free heat load calculation for you by plugging in all the factors needed to determine the correct BTU’s necessary for your unit. All cooling units need to have a dedicated circuit and all units will have a drain line for excess condensation.

Types of Wine Cooling Units Recommended for Texas Wine Cellars

  • types of wine cellar cooling systems TexasSelf Contained or Through-the-wall: A unit that is mounted through the wall (hence the name). It pulls air from the adjoining room and also releases hot air into the same room. This separate room must be heat and air conditioned and be at least two times the size of the wine cellar. Some of these systems can have the hot air ducted to another area. Consult your expert.
  • Ductless Split System: Called a “split” because the evaporator coil is in the room where the unit is. It is connected to the condenser in another room or outside the home via 2 copper lines. If you live in a climate where you have winter days of below 40 degrees, this must be taken into consideration when choosing your unit. Some units can withstand these temperatures. On others you must add a low ambient kit for cold weather.
  • Split-air handler or Ducted Split System: This system requires ducting to the wine cellar from the evaporator coil, which can sit in another room, closet or attic. The evaporator is connected to the condenser via 2 copper lines. The condenser can be in another room (at least 1-2 times the size of the cellar) or outdoors. Again, if placing the condenser outdoors, be sure your wine cellar expert knows your climate temperature fluctuations year round to be sure your unit has everything for the conditions it will be in.
  • Water-cooled system: This system uses cold water to cool the coils in the unit, and is installed in an indoor space. By using water, no refrigerant is needed or used, and an air handler creates the cold air you need in the room. This type of unit is usually only used when the building has a water reservoir in place that circulates through the building and can be tapped into. You do not want to hook this up to a regular city water and sewer system.

A climate control system will do more than simply circulate air in your cellar. The right system will help protect your wine by maintaining constant wine cellar temperature and humidity. The fluctuation of temperature and humidity is the biggest cause of ruined wine.

More Wine Cooling Tips

Wine Cellar Specialists, a wine cooling expert in Texas, always make sure that the room is prepared for the installation of the wine refrigeration system. They install the proper amount of insulation, a vapor the barrier, and sealing components for the door and flooring.

Installing the Proper Insulation and Vapor Barrier Can Protect Both Your Wine Cooling System and Wines

Climate-controlled wine cellars must be insulated by a professional to prevent the environmental factors from damaging your wine. The R factor (thickness of insulation) depends on the thickness of the walls and ceiling. R19 is the minimum insulation that must be applied the interior walls of your wine cellar. For the ceiling, above ground floor and any exterior walls, R-30 insulation is recommended.

wine cellar door Texas

Wine Cellar Door with Proper Sealing Components by Wine Cellar Specialists Texas Builder

Wine cellar builders should be using closed cell spray foam as insulation and vapor barrier. Before the foam is sprayed, any seams should also by polysealed. Proper vapor barrier and insulation can help to prevent mold growth by sealing the wine cellar and allowing the proper sized cooling unit to work efficiently. When closed cell foam is used as your insulation in the correct thickness, another vapor barrier is not necessary.

Some contractors use plastic sheeting applied to the warm side of the walls. At Wine Cellar Specialists we only recommend closed cell foam. Plastic sheeting is too easy to be compromised over time and can then allow moisture to enter the room, causing mold or mildew issues.

With the appropriate insulation and vapor barrier installed, your Texas wine cellar can store your collection safely for years to come. It also allows your wine cooling system to function properly, preventing significant expense. Your wine cooling unit may not work correctly, overworking the refrigeration system, if your wine cellar has not been properly sealed.

Sealing the Door and Flooring

An exterior grade door must be used in a cooled wine cellar. It must be equipped with weather stripping on all four sides of the doorjamb. It will prevent unwanted entry of the outdoor air. It is also imperative to add a threshold or bottom sweep to the door. Our wood and iron doors have the option of an automatic door bottom which is a great way to seal against the loss of air from your wine cellar.

Your floor will need to have a vapor barrier and insulation if it is above ground. Flooring should be made of a solid material applied to a level surface. Ideal flooring materials are ceramic tiles, hardwood, and marbles.

Need Help? Contact a Wine Cellar Cooling Expert.

Wine Cellar Specialists offers quality cooling systems for Texas wine cellars. Contact them at +1 (866 ) 646-7089!

Storing Red and White Wine

As you probably know, the cooling unit you put in place in your wine cellar will help to determine how your wine will be when you decide to open and drink it. Before talking about the conditions under which to store red and white wine, let’s review what your cellar should have before you move in any wine.

Preparing the Room to Meet Wine Storage Requirements

  • wine cellar insulation TexasPrepare your wine cellar before installing your cooling unit.
  • Put a vapor barrier in place in the walls and ceiling. A vapor barrier consists of  6 mils plastic sheeting and must be installed on the warm side to serve as a barrier between the cellar and the rest of your home. The room should be wrapped like a package so no moisture can escape.
  • Put a vapor barrier on the floor. If the floor is concrete, you can use a product that goes on with a trowel found at most hardware stores. One recommended product is Bosticks MVP4.

Any tile or wood flooring can be installed right over this product once it drys. If your floor is above ground, you will want to add your vapor barrier and insulation just as you did on the walls and ceiling, while building up the floor.

  • The proper insulation should then be installed in the walls and ceiling. A minimum of R-13 in the walls and R-19 in the ceiling. However, the more the better. The more insulation you add, the less work your cooling unit will have to do. This could save you money in the long run… so insulate well.
  • Before installing your walls, depending on the cooling unit you are using, you may want to run a drain line, your copper lines (if applicable) and be sure to wire for your electrical. All units will need a place to drain and must have a dedicated circuit for the compressor.
  • wine cooling systems Texas

    An Efficient Wine Cooling Unit is a Vital Component of Wine Cellars

    For the walls, you have a choice. You can use any moisture-resistant material. You can put a ½” plywood down first to make it easier to attach your racking to the walls… recommended especially if using metal racking. Then add a green board, or something similar.

  • Another method is to add a heavy paneling such as a tongue and groove board or other board material that you might like to see in your room. Just make sure it is moisture resistant. If you are painting the walls, use latex paint.
  • Now install your wine cooling unit. Again, depending on the unit you use, you may need to hire a licensed HVACR contractor for this. An HVACR contractor is required for your warranty to be valid if you are using any split system.

These are very basic steps. Clearly, there is more to building a Texas wine cellar in your home than the steps we list above, but we list them to give you an idea of the work involved in creating a space in your home that will perfectly preserve and help age any wine you store. Experts can help you throughout the process, from deciding the kind of cellar you want and where you want it to doing the actual work.

Best Conditions for Wine

wine cellar racks Texas

Once your cellar is in place, you get to move on to the fun part – actually storing your wine. We will cover in a series of other blog posts the types of racks you can use in your Texas wine cellar, but here, let’s briefly talk about the best conditions under which to store your red and white wine.

wine temperatureBoth red and white wines should be stored at the same temperature when it comes to storage. Ideal storage conditions protect wine from harmful environmental factors, preserving its desirable characteristics.

Drinking temperature is a different issue. Keep in mind that serving wine too hot or too cold can result in flat flavors and aromas. The right serving temperature can help preserve the freshness and fruitiness of the wine.

White wines may not be chilled enough in your wine cellar. Before serving a white wine, take the wine out of your cellar and put it into an ice bucket before you are planning to serve it. Serving champagne? Definitely chill champagne on ice before serving it. If you add water to the ice, the wine will chill faster.

The 55-degree storage temperature is equally important, if not more so, with your red wines. They typically are the wines that need more time to age before drinking. However, the 55 degrees is not the temperature you will want to drink your red wines at either.

Contrary to popular belief, red wine should not be served at normal room temperature. Depending upon the wine you are drinking, the ideal drinking temperature varies. There are many charts available online to help you along the way.

When in doubt, serve the wine a few degrees cooler than room temperature. The richer aroma is released as the wine warms up to room temperature. No wine should be served over 68 degrees F.  Keep in mind that the cooling process helps age your wine and will let you store it for longer periods of time than just putting it away elsewhere.

One unit can serve to store red and white and conditions ideal for them, but remember you may need to take an extra step (cooling or “warming”) before serving.

Essential Wine Accessories for Serving Wine in Your Texas Wine Cellar

In addition to serving wine at the right temperature, you can invest in wine accessories to enhance your wine-drinking experience.

Aerator

An aerator is a must-have gadget of wine enthusiasts. It is used to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in wine. This process is called aeration, which can help increase your pleasure of drinking your precious wines, especially young ones. Aeration allows the wine to be exposed to the right amount of air, giving the wine a smoother texture and pleasant aromas.

Decanter

Another important wine cellar accessory is the decanter. The dark residuals in your glass or wine bottles are known as sediments. Before drinking wine, these sediments should be separated from the liquid to eliminate harsh flavors. It is a common practice to let a bottle stand vertically for at least 24-36 hours prior to decanting. This will allow for easy decanting because the sediments will settle at the bottom of the bottle.

Other Tips in Serving Wine

  • When pouring wine, the wineglass must be on the table, not in your hand.
  • Use a bigger wine glass for reds, and smaller ones for whites.
  • Pour only 5-6 ounces of wine in a glass.

 

Best Tips from Wine Cellar Cooling System Experts in Texas

Climate-Controlled Home Wine Cellar in Texas

Climate-Controlled Home Wine Cellar in Texas

One of the reasons wine loses its desirable characteristics is choosing the wrong wine cellar cooling system. Keep in mind that a regular air conditioning system for homes should not be used to stabilize a wine cellar environment. Wine Cellar Specialists, a wine cooling expert in Texas, is dedicated to helping clients select the best wine refrigeration system that suits the requirements.

Why it is Crucial to Work with a Wine Cellar Cooling Expert in Texas

You cannot enjoy the true bouquet of your favorite vintages if you do not store them in a climate-controlled environment. Wine must not be exposed to excessive heat, direct source of light, odor, and vibration. It is a smart idea to invest your time and money in building a safe place for your precious collection: a wine cellar designed to achieve the optimum storage conditions.

The Ideal Environment Required for the Graceful Aging of Wines

The ideal temperature in a wine cellar is between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, while the humidity level must range from 60 to 70 percent. Excessive temperature fluctuations will accelerate wine’s aging process, which can result in off flavors and aromas.

High humidity levels also have a negative impact on the quality of your wines. If your wine cellar exceeds the ideal humidity level, the cork will shrink, become brittle, and eventually lose its elasticity.

The cork’s elasticity plays a significant role in sealing the bottle and prevents an unwanted amount of oxygen to enter. When it decreases in size, air will mix with the wine and cause wine oxidation. An oxidized wine smells like burnt fruit or wet cardboard.

Another effect of high humidity levels is mold growth on the wine racks, cork, wine labels, in the wall cavities, and ceiling. You can prevent these wine storage issues if you hire a reliable wine cellar builder who is also a cooling expert in Texas.

Wine Cooling System Options

Wine Cellar Refrigeration System Installation Project in Texas

Wine Cellar Refrigeration System Installation Project in Texas

While you need to make sure that the temperature and humidity in your wine cellar are maintained at the right levels, there are different ways you can do this. When you set out to build a wine cellar in your home (or have one installed), you will more than likely hear about different cooling options. The primary options include self-contained, ductless split, and ducted split systems.

Essential Tips in Choosing a Wine Refrigeration System for Your Cellar

Which system you go with will depend on your needs. Before deciding, consult with an expert. They can help you decide in which direction to go, and may be able to offer services with about putting the cellar in place. Most wine cellars, if done correctly, will need little long-term maintenance, so an initial expense may be worth it if your later costs are minimized.

As mentioned in a different blog post, a wine cellar is not going to keep any white wine you serve at a temperature desirable for serving. You must remember to take out the white wine and chill it before serving.

Never Put a Wine Fridge Inside Your Wine Cellar

So, while a cellar is the best place in which to store white wine, some people also install a wine refrigerator somewhere else in the home in which to keep white wine that you intend to serve and drink soon. You do not want to put a wine refrigerator inside the cellar itself. The motor will give off heat and combat the cooling system, making it take more energy to cool the room.

Buy a Wine Cooling Unit That Has a Humidity Control Feature

Wine Cellar Cooling System Installed by Experts in Texas

Wine Cellar Cooling System Installed by Experts in Texas

A wine cooler is not the drink you can buy, and it is not some type of cooler you take with you on a picnic or to the beach. A wine cooler, or cooling unit, is desirable because it will help keep your cellar at one steady temperature. For storing wine, temperatures should be close to a constant 55 degrees. Most wine cooling units you can buy will not come with a humidity control device on the unit.

However, they all will help to control the humidity by getting rid of the excess. There are some units, which claim to re-route the moisture and add it back into the cellar when needed. These units have “humidity control.”

In most parts of the country, low humidity is not an issue. When the room has a proper vapor barrier and insulation, and the unit is cooling the room, the humidity will naturally rise higher than the air outside of the cellar.

If humidity is a factor for your wine cellar, you can install a humidifier, use a unit that has humidity control, add a fountain, or try the poor man’s method of adding a container of water to the opposite side of the room as the cooling unit. The unit will draw the moisture up through the air adding extra humidity to the room.

Different Types of Wine Cooling System Offered by Wine Cellars Specialists in Texas

Self-Contained Wine Cooling System

Self-Contained Wine Cooling System

At Wine Cellar Specialists, we always make a careful assessment of our client’s needs to ensure that every component we install meets their aesthetic, functional, and financial requirements. There are several ways to keep your cellar cool.

We offer self-contained through-the-wall, self-contained ducted, ducted split, and ductless split wine refrigeration systems.  You and your chosen builder must understand the features of each of these climate-control systems.

Self-Contained Through the Wall Wine Cooling Systems

The most cost effective is a self-contained unit, which goes through the wall and into the next room. You have to have a room that is at least twice the size of the cellar for this type of unit. The exception is if you duct the exhaust out of the second room to another area. Some units allow for this option.

There is also a wine cooling unit made that can vent to the outdoors. It is meant for extreme conditions. Be sure that you have the correct unit if placing the unit in an outer wall. Anyone can install this type of unit. However, it is the noisiest of all of the systems, as the fan and compressor are both in the one unit.

Self-Contained Ducted Wine Cooling Systems

One of the most popular styles of cooling units today is the ducted self-contained system. If you have a room next to the cellar or an attic above it is a perfect way to cool your room. Both the evaporator and condenser are contained in one unit and is ducted to and from the cellar. This unit does not require an hvac contractor to install as it comes pre-charged with the freon already in the system.

Ductless Split System

Ductless Split Wine Cooling System

Ductless Split Wine Cooling System

Another unit is a ductless split system. With this unit, the evaporator, or fan coil is placed inside the cellar and is connected via two copper lines to the compressor which can be placed either in another large room in the house or outdoors.

Ducted Split System

Self-Contained Ducted Wine Cooling System

Self-Contained Ducted Wine Cooling System

The fourth type of cooling unit is a ducted split system. This is a system where the evaporator and the condenser are both located remotely and the cool air, and the return air are ducted in and out of the room.

The evaporator is indoors in a separate space and is connected to the condenser (which usually sits outdoors) with two copper lines.

Both the ductless and the ducted split systems must be installed by a licensed HVAC/R contractor. There are other types of units on the market as well.

Avoid Costly Mistakes by Working with a Wine Cellar Cooling System Specialist in Texas

Consult with a wine cellar specialist in Texas when choosing the type and brand of your wine cooling system. Purchasing the wrong unit can be a costly mistake. A well-built wine cellar can be located anywhere in your home where one of these units can be installed.

If you need help, please do not hesitate to call us at +1 (866 ) 646-7089.