It would seem odd that wine is so popular in the Lone Star State (which is the nickname of Texas), but it’s true. Wine collecting as a hobby, or as a serious business, is steadily growing in popularity in Texas. As a testament to this popularity, some have gone beyond wine collecting to actually producing Texas-made wines.
But for those who are still in the initial stages of their love affair with wine, wine collecting is still the thing to do. There are two main reasons for the proliferation of Texas custom wine cellars. One is that people eventually want to make a profit when they sell their precious vintages, and the other is that people just want easy and ready access to a good bottle of wine.
Wine Cellars are in Demand in Texas
One of the sure signs that wine collecting in Texas is booming, is the increased interest in building a Texas wine cellar. In this state’s warm climate, wine bottles must be stored properly, in adherence to the ideal conditions. If not, the wine will spoil.
Texas wine cellars are some of the most tastefully-designed wine cellars around. This is because there are plenty of professional wine cellar companies who offer stellar services. There are also a range of beautiful wine storage racks to be found on the market, ranging from traditional wood to modern metals, that can fit just about any space or requirement you have.
Red Wine in an Instant
One of the reasons the need for custom wine rooms has experienced growth is that wine collectors want to have easy access to their wine, particularly the rich flavor of a good bottle of red. Imagine being able to procure a bottle of red wine just by going into your wine cellar.
There, you can browse from a variety of bottles you have been storing or aging and pick the best red wine to go with the steak dinner you are having. Imagine having your very own collection of Shiraz, Merlot, or Cabernet Sauvignon just a few steps from your dining area. This beats running to the store or going to a restaurant just to enjoy a good meal.
Win-Win with Red Wine
Having red wine is not just a great way to enjoy a meal, the fantastic news is that it’s healthy too. Texas wine cellar owners will be pleased to know that red wine in moderation is good for the heart. It contains substances called antioxidants that help prevent heart disease by increasing good cholesterol. It also helps protect the lining of the blood vessels in your heart. Besides, red wine has resveratrol, which helps prevent damage to blood vessels and also helps prevent blood clots.
Custom wine rooms are built not only for proper wine storage but also for easy access to one’s favorite and healthy wines. There is no reason not to include a couple of red wines, which are known to have many health benefits.
When one has decided to start and maintain a wine collection, it is essential for the wine collector to build a custom wine cellar. This is to protect the wine bottles, especially if one intends to age wines.
For wine collectors who live in areas with varying climates like Texas, it is advisable to seriously consider installing wine cellar refrigeration units to maintain the ideal temperature and humidity levels of the wine cellar.
There are a lot of models of cooling units and components available on the market today. One needs to research the models available and consult a Texas wine cellar specialist so that proper assessment of the wine cellar is done and the right cooling unit for your wine cellar is recommended. A heat load assessment can also be done to determine the right size of the cooling unit for your wine cellar.
CellarPro Wine Refrigeration System
CellarPro wine cooling systems offer different kinds of cooling units depending on the dimensions and location of one’s wine cellar. Choosing a cooling unit is not an easy task since cooling units and their accessories must be customized according to the size, both width, and height, of the wine cellar and its location in the house or building. It is important to locate where the warm air blows and exits the wine cellar.
CellarPro cooling units are continuously improving their products to serve their clients better. They periodically upgrade the cooling units’ components for better performance. They offer models from small wine cabinets to large capacity wine cellars. There are plenty of units and components to choose from depending on the dimensions of the wine cellar.
Cellar Pro Wine Cellar Cooling Units
These reliable units have electronic thermostats and digital displays for ease of temperature control. Maintaining the temperature and humidity levels can be done inside the wine cellar.
Cooling units of CellarPro have audible and visual alarms to inform you when pre-programmed wine storage temperatures have been exceeded. This will ensure that the wines are monitored at all times.
Moreover, they have alarms that indicate when maintenance is needed and if there are any component or system failures. This mechanism is very helpful to the user as he will be somewhat guided by these features, thus avoiding unnecessary damage to the wine collection.
Availing a cooling unit for your Texas wine cellar may more than scratch your budget, but it will surely pay off since the wine cellar’s condition is maintained according to the ideal settings or standards. In return, you will have a properly stored wine collection that you can be proud of.
Need Help in Choosing the Right Wine Cellar Cooling System? Contact a Texas Wine Cellar Expert
Let your wines mature properly for years by choosing the correct wine cellar cooling system. If you don’t know which type of cooling system is best suited for your budget and needs, contact Wine Cellar Specialists at 866-646-7089 or visit their website at https://www.winecellarspec.com/.
Wine collecting has been gaining popularity in many parts of the world, including Texas, whether as a hobby or as a serious business. These days, you don’t even have to own land in wine-growing regions. The innovations in the wine industry have allowed many to start collecting wine and build a Texas custom wine cellar, even in the comfort of their own home or any other designated space.
Along with this growth and interest in wine aging and wine, collecting is a rise in demand for the accessories and equipment that are needed to start and maintain this endeavor. There’s a demand for wine cooling units, wine cellar design, and other wine-related products and services.
One of the more popular industries is the wine rack manufacturing business. As wine lovers’ collections grow, so does their need for efficient and stylish wine racks where they can store and display their wine collection. Below are some tips that will help you achieve success in this industry.
A Simple Guide to Wine Rack Manufacturing Business
1. Create a good range of wine rack designs.
Your business will only be as good as the type of custom wine rack designs that you sell, and for this, you must have a wide range of designs and styles. Make sure you use different types of materials. Wood, metal, and acrylic are some of the more in-demand choices. It would also be good to offer different options for the sizes of your wine racks.
For wooden wine rack kits, there are quite a number of sizes and styles. There is a range of wood types to choose from as well. Modules of different kinds are also available for each kit type. Since the design is pre-made, the kits cost less because they are standardized.
Wine Cellar Specialists offer these great wine racks that maximize the space for your wine room. What’s also great about the wooden wine racks from Wine Cellar Specialists is that they are hand-sanded to make sure that the labels on your wine bottles stay intact.
Now, if you are looking for something that is a little more personalized to your requirements, there are custom-built wine racks that will allow customers to incorporate their own design and style.
Wine Cellar Specialists customize wine racks that will fit the size of your wine room and complement the existing décor of your space. Whether you want waterfall racks, peninsulas, horizontal racks, or curved columns, they will meet your wine storage needs. They even offer a third option of having a combination of both standard wine rack kits and some customized details.
2. Build a website for your business.
You can use your own website to promote your wine racks and connect to a wide range of customers. Just take a look at the website of Wine Cellar Specialists (https://www.winecellarspec.com/). This is an example of a website that allows customers to navigate easily. The horizontal tabs near the top offer categories that potential wine rack customers will find useful. The vertical box on the left side offers customers easy access to queries and design requests.
Having a website is incredibly useful because unlike a store, it doesn’t close. It will always be open to being browsed by customers. They can look through the wine racks that would best fit their wine cellar.
3. Use Social Media to Promote Your Products & Services
These days, people are always connecting via social media for anything and everything they might need. One of the most powerful marketing tools that social media harnesses are word-of-mouth recommendations.
By having a great social media presence, your wine rack business can benefit from testimonies, shares, and recommendations of your satisfied customers. You can even get “free” advertising when they post photos of the products and services of your company that they are happy about.
In the end, the best way to really succeed in business or in anything is to check out some of the best and leading names in the business. Wine Cellar Specialists is one such company that is worth emulating. Contact them now at 866-646-7089!
Traditional Wine Cellar with Elegant Wooden Wine Racks
The wrong wine rack material can make or break the overall appeal of your Texas wine cellar. During the planning phase, it is highly recommended that you seek the advice of a professional designer and installer about the most suitable material for your storage racks. You must consider style, quality, and value. It may cost a significant expense in the future if you decide to change your racking system because it does not fit your needs. At Wine Cellar Specialists, wine room with wood wine racks is in demand among our clients.
Choosing the Most Suitable Racking Material for Your Wine Room
Every owner of residential or commercial space has unique requirements for their wine cellar project. At Wine Cellar Specialists, we make sure that the best material is chosen for our client’s wine racks.
Why Wine Rooms with Wood Wine Racks are In-Demand in Homes and Businesses
Most custom wine cellars for homes or businesses are installed with wooden wine racks. Wood has known to offer many functional and aesthetic benefits.
Custom Wine Cellar Racks Made from Knotty Alder Wood
It is easy to work with, making it easy for builders to customize the wine racks according to the size and shape of the room, the number of bottles intended to be stored and displayed, the home’s décor, the mood that the client wants to achieve, and the allotted budget.
A wine room with wood racks provides a relaxing place for drinking wine with friends. The earth tone colour of wooden wine racks gives an elegant look and richness to the wine cellar. Wood can also go well with any décor in your home. Its natural beauty can match both traditional and contemporary living spaces.
Ideal Types of Wood for Wine Racks
With various wood species used in construction today, it is best to seek the help of an expert when choosing your wine rack material.
Redwood and mahogany are most commonly used for making wine racks through oak, pine and other woods can also be used in some circumstances. At Wine Cellar Specialists, we do not recommend inexpensive materials, such as Poplar, Fir, Western Red Cedar or any aromatic Cedars.
The smell from these woods could go through the corks and taint the flavour of your wine. Some cedars, called non-aromatic, still have some smell to them and should be avoided.
Redwood
Wooden Wine Rack System Made from Premium Redwood
If you love wine cellar racks with reddish tones, you should go with Redwood. It exhibits attractive grain patterns, which are more visible when the wood is stained or lacquered.
Additionally, Redwood is also known to withstand the humid conditions in wine cellars and is highly resistant to mildew, decay, and shock. Its resistance to rot is due to its high level of tannin. So you can expect your Redwood wine racks to last long if maintained properly.
Storing your favourite vintages in Redwood wine racks will add an eco-friendly feature to your wine cellar because the wood is a sustainable material. You can Premium Redwood if you want wine racks with lighter tones or All Heart Redwood for darker racks.
Redwood has similar properties to Cedar, but it has limited availability and is denser. Redwood is also smoother and has fewer knots than Cedar.
Pine
Unfinished Pine (Left) Lacquered Pine (Right)
Pine is also a good material for wine racks because it is attractive, versatile, resistant to decay, durability, and cost-effectiveness. When left unfinished, this softwood will add a lighter feel to your wine cellar.
But keep in mind that it should only be used when the racking will not be in a climate-controlled wine cellar, but in a home or store under regular living conditions. It does not hold up well to cold temperatures and high humidity.
Mahogany
Lacquered Mahogany Wine Storage Racks
When it comes to strength and durability, Mahogany has an edge over other types of wood, making it a favourite material in manufacturing wine racks. It also takes finishes and stains very well.
Unfinished Mahogany Wine Racks
It may display ribbons, stripes, ripples, blisters or rope patterns. Mahogany wine racks are tan to reddish-brown in colour.
They are sanded to reveal their attractive grains. Kiln drying the wood makes it resistant to damages caused by moisture such as warping and splitting.
Another advantage of Mahogany is its non-aromatic quality. Woods used for refrigerated wine cellars must have no strong odours to protect the wine’s aroma and taste.
Mahogany subspecies include Amber Blaze, African, Philippine, Prime, Malaysian, and Sapele. Among these options, Malaysian Mahogany has the most distinctive tone variations and grains.
Alder
Knotty Alder Wood
Another wood species that we use in manufacturing wine racks is Alder. It has an even texture that makes painting a great option.
It is the most suitable material for those who want burl clusters and knots to be visible on their reddish-brown wine racks. The knots vary in colour, shape, and size.
Knotty Alder is a medium density wood with varying wavy grain patterns and lends a rustic appeal than Clear Alder.
Different Types of Wine Rack
In order to create a stunning display of our client’s collection, we use pre-built, custom, or a combination of these wine racks. Our creative team will make sure that your wine room with wood racks will enhance the beauty of your residential or commercial property.
Pre-Made Wine Racks
Pre-Made Wooden Wine Racks
Our pre-built wine racks or wooden wine rack kits are available in standard sizes and heights. These storage units are constructed with 1 ½ inches toe-kick base and horizontal dado spacers. One unit can be stacked on top of the other as your collection grows.
Custom Wine Racks
Custom Wooden Wine Racks by Wine Cellar Specialists
Custom wine racks are built according to the specific requirements of the client. They are constructed according to the room’s shape and size. The owner can also incorporate his or her own unique design to achieve a stellar custom wine display.
Custom racking is ideal for irregular-shaped rooms. If you are building a wine cellar in a space under the stairs, custom wine racks are recommended so that your racking can fit the ascending ceiling perfectly.
Bottle Configurations for Wine Rooms with Wood Racks
Residential Wooden Custom Wine Racks with Mixed Bottle Orientations
Individual wine racks suspend bottles within the rack and allow air to circulate around the bottle. Each bottle is in its own separate niche. They also make it easier to see and pick the desired wine from the wine cellar. An individual rack for 750 type bottles should be 3 ¾” in diameter to be able to store most any of the larger and odd-shaped bottles in today’s market.
Other individual bottle sizes can also be included in your Texas wine cellar to store magnums, very large champagne bottles, split size bottles, or any size bottle you might have. Display rows can be built into the individual racks.
These are rows of individual bottles that are lying back at an angle to show the label. A display row should keep your bottle at no more than a 15-degree angle so that the wine still touches the cork to keep it moist.
Bin wine racks allow wines to be kept horizontally together in compartments and help to store wine in a space-saving way. This is a good way to store many bottles of the same type of wine together. There are many types of bins that can be used such as X cubes, diamond bins, rectangular bins and more.
Do You Want a Wine Cellar with Wood Racks? Contact a Professional Today.
Investing in a wine room with wood racks offers many benefits. At Wine Cellar Specialists, we will help you through the complete process of wine cellar construction.
We design exquisite wine cellars with the right storage space and effective cooling systems to suit your personal needs.
We will also select a floor type that compliments the room as well as a wine cellar door to complete your package.
With Wine Cellar Specialists, you get your personal wine cellar consultant who can help you to create a cellar that becomes one of the most aesthetic features of your home décor. https://www.winecellarspec.com/.
You want to build a wine cellar, or maybe you already have one, and you’re thinking about how to fill it (with more than your wine collection, that is). Texas wine cellars are more than the racks you put inside, and of course you will needs racks, because bottles of wine should be stored at a 15 degree angle to make sure the cork doesn’t dry out.
Adding Furniture to Your Texas Home Wine Cellar
Some wine enthusiasts invest in furniture to add a decorative touch to their wine rooms, enhance the wine drinking experience, provide convenient access to wines, or add space for serving and decanting wine.
Wine Tables
Functional Wooden Wine Table in a Texas Wine Cellar
Did you know that some modern wine cellars also have tables inside that can serve as a tasting station?
Or, in some homes, the wine cellar is where dinners begin and end. How fun, to select a bottle of wine out of your collection in front of the people who will enjoy it.
A wine table is similar to any other table in your home. However, remember, if your wine cellar is climate controlled, it will be approximately 55 degrees in the cellar.
You will probably not want to sit around your table while you casually drink your wine. You may use it to sit a case on when unpacking your wines. You may use it to sit your bottles on when selecting which wine to drink.
When you pick a wine table, look for the same features as you would any other table. The table should be a comfortable height, size, and the material of your table should be sturdy and match the rest of the décor. It should hold up well in a high humidity. A wine table is not the place to splurge on bells and whistles. You don’t want your table to overwhelm the room.
Your table should compliment your racks, which should be easy, as most racks come in materials that tables also come in. If you are going with a modern look, then pick a wood or metal table that will look good next to metal wine racks.
Eco-Friendly Wine Barrel Table
At Wine Cellar Specialists, they create wine tables made from wood or metal. For eco-friendly homeowners, a wine barrel table is recommended.
Since it provides a unique space for serving and tasting wines, hosting wine tasting parties can be more memorable.
Pairing furniture in your Texas wine cellar is as much art as it is science, and like pairing a good wine with a good meal, you should think about what you’re doing before starting out.
Wine Cellar Stools/Chairs
The table won’t be complete without some stools or chairs around it. These pieces of furniture can be made of hardwood or metal. Texas home wine cellar builders also recommend stools or chairs made of reclaimed wine barrels.
It is ideal that the material of your stools or chairs complement the wine racks.
It should also be chosen according to the size of your Texas wine cellar, your personal style and budget.
Wine-Rolling Ladders
Wine Cellar Rolling Ladder
Another furniture element to consider is installing a ladder, if your racks are high enough to warrant a ladder. Not only can a ladder make reaching those hard-to-reach bottles easy, but it can probably roll out of the way when not in use, leaving plenty of room to move around it.
Dragging a chair in each time you want to reach those top shelves isn’t really an option, nor should it be an option. Think about your current and future wine collection needs when designing your custom wine cellar, and when deciding how to furnish it.
Make sure the ladder will roll well on the flooring you pick for your cellar. Use a solid wood or tile floor when installing a ladder.
Pick the layout that will work and look the best for you. Remember, no two wine cellars are the same. Yours should reflect you and your collection.
At Wine Cellar Specialists, they offer straight and bent wine cellar ladders. They offer wood and metal library ladders. Wooden rolling ladders are made from quality hardwoods: Mahogany, Cherry, Birch, Alder, Red Oak, Maple, Walnut, or White Oak. The wood can be applied with your chosen stain, or can be left unfinished.
For the metal wine cellar ladders, you can choose between matte, white, gloss black, colored powder-coated, metallic beige, or standard milled aluminum finish.
The furniture you use inside your wine cellar will depend on how large your wine cellar is as well as how many racks you have for wine. Keep in mind that your cellar should not only accommodate your current collection but also grow with you.
Furniture may get in the way of such growth, so make sure that you choose items that will work with your future needs. No matter the direction you go, your decisions should be right for you and your needs.
Need help? Wine Cellar Specialists can help find the furniture that will complement your wine storage space. Don’t have a Texas wine cellar yet? Contact Wine Cellar Specialists at +1 (866 ) 646-7089.
Mistakes in wine room construction can be avoided if you work with the right company. We, at Wine Cellar Specialists, have extensive knowledge in proper wine storage. We have designed functional custom wine displays and installed Texas wine cellars with the proper components. Before the wine room installation, there are important questions that need to be answered, to ensure that our clients will be happy with the beauty and functionality of their wine rooms.
Questions That Needs to Be Answered Before Custom Wine Cellar Installation
A Wine Cellar Must be Built by a Professional
Yes, wine cellars are a good investment, especially if you are a wine connoisseur. Consider your wine collection. Maybe you don’t know how you became a collector.
A couple of bottles you bought for dinner became a case for a week’s vacation with friends and all of a sudden you’re reading labels and asking about vintage and years.
What’s next? Worrying about storage temperature. If you don’t think about it, that special bottle you’re saving for a golden anniversary or for when that promotion goes through may not taste as special as you are hoping.
Once your thoughts turn to storage temperature, it’s time to think about a wine cellar of your very own.
Some questions you may have, or at least some questions others at the start of their wine cellar process have had, and some answers. Of course, your situation is unique to you. Some of the questions may not apply. Remember, we’re here to help. Call us at 972-454-0480, or you can e-mail us at info@winecellarspec.com.
Is special construction required?
Wine Will Age Properly in the Right Environment
The fluctuation of temperature is the number one cause of wines going bad. You want your wine cellar to have a constant temperature of between 55 degrees and 58 degrees, and maintain a humidity of between 50% and 75%. The temperature in most homes hover around 70 degrees, and the humidity in most homes is somewhere between 20% and 30%.
Of course, where you live, and the temperature and humidity outside probably affect the temperature and humidity in your home.
The proper insulation and vapor barrier in the walls are the first steps to creating a wine room. These will keep the wine cellar humidity at the ideal range by preventing the warm air from leaking into the wine room.
Without proper insulation, molds and mildew can build up in your wine cellar, which can damage the integrity of your racking and walls. This can also damage the wine labels.
The next step is to find out which climate control system is right for you. After the assessment of your needs, Wine Cellar Specialists will be able to recommend the type and brand of wine refrigeration system that suits your storage requirements. This will stabilize the temperature and humidity in the wine room. Regular air conditioners don’t have the capacity to provide the right environment that will help the wine to age gracefully.
Yes. However, keep in mind that where you install your wine cellar will affect how much you spend on its upkeep going forward. Also, heat, light, and vibration can affect your wine. Pick a spot without windows preferably (so you don’t have to worry about covering them) and away from any noise is best. The type of climate control system you can use also depends upon where your room is located. Consult a Wine Cellar Specialist.
When does the cooling unit go in?
Normally, your refrigeration system goes in after the drywall is installed. However, you will want to run the electrical and drain lines during your wall construction.
Do I need to install special flooring?
Texas Wine Cellar Flooring
Yes. You need to install flooring that can withstand high humidity. Carpeting just will not do, since it may likely rot.
Concrete is OK, as long as it is sealed properly. Porcelain or granite tiles, cork, or hardwood flooring is most often recommended.
Custom wine cellar lighting is key to achieving a moody and dramatic look
While it’s fine to opt out of installing lighting for your custom wine cellar, we highly recommend adding a bit of decorative lighting to improve the overall ambient of the space. Furthermore, it adds some pizzazz to your wine collection. With LEDs, you don’t have to worry about the heat it produces. It won’t affect the temperature and the state of wine bottles, thanks to the low-power nature of LED. Alternatively, you can install a chandelier to illuminate the entire room space. The combination of warm lighting and dark-shaded bottles creates a soothing look and feel for a Texas custom wine cellar. What’s even better is that it works and blends well whether it’s traditional, modern, or contemporary custom wine cellars.
How to properly light a Texas custom wine cellar?
If you are planning to add lighting decorations to your wine cellar, you need to know how to install lights in a wine cellar the right way. Aside from chandelier or ceiling lighting, you can try the backlit style. With the bulbs hiding behind wine bottles, the illumination creates a silhouette effect that dramatically adds mood to a wine rack. Sometimes, the color of the wine makes everything a lot more interesting. Another style that’s popular nowadays is accent lighting. All you need to have are several LED strips and run them along the shelves. You can get creative and find the best spots for accent lights. This is one of the best ways to light a custom wine cellar, especially if you want wine racks to be the focal point.
I don’t want to build my wine cellar. Can anyone do it?
Wine Cellar Specialists Texas
Yes, most likely. A blanket statement like anyone can build your wine cellar is difficult to back up. If your builder follows proper Texas wine cellar construction and enclosure guidelines, then yes, anyone can help you.
The materials your builder will need for your wine cellar are easy to find and often used in other home projects. But you should ask any builder you consider for the job if they have experience with wine cellars, and if not, if they work with anyone who does.
When it comes to installing climate control, many units will require a licensed HVAC/R contractor.
The most affordable builder, or the builder who promises to have your wine cellar finished in the shortest amount of time, may not be the best builder for your job. Think long-term appreciation, not short-term satisfaction. We, at Wine Cellar Specialists, will create your wine cellar from start to finish… or work with your builder to help educate him on the best methods when building your room.
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 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
Self 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 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!
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
Prepare 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.
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
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.
Both 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.
An Expert Can Help You Build Your Dream Texas Wine Cellar
Climate-Controlled Texas Wine Cellar
While you can build a wine cellar in any part of your home, remember that where you build your wine cellar will affect how much you spend yearly in cellar-related costs.
The temperature in most wine cellars should be between 55 degrees and 58 degrees, and wine cellars typically have a humidity of between 50% and 75%, so, if possible, pick the coolest and most-humid place in your house and be sure to use the correct amount of insulation and vapor barrier in the wall construction.
Doing so will help you lower your overall costs, because this may allow you to use a smaller-sized cooling unit.
Planning Your Wine Cellar Project
After you’ve picked the spot in your house where you will build your wine cellar, plan carefully. How much money are you willing to invest initially and going forward? What do you want your wine cellar to look like? Can you find building materials locally, or are you going to have to special order materials? Are you prepared to do the work yourself? How will you protect your wine?
Careful assessment of your functional, aesthetic, and budget requirements, will help your chosen builder determine the most suitable wine cooling system, flooring, racking, lighting, and doors.
Wine Cellar Specialists, an expert in wine cellar design and installation, can make your Texas wine cellar a safe haven for your collection, and a beautiful addition to your living space.
Wine Refrigeration System
Wine Cellar Cooling Systems Texas
Your cellar will need the correct size and type of cooling system. The size and location of your cellar are factors that must be taken into account in determining the type and capacity of your climate-control system.
The wrong choice of cooling system can cause temperature fluctuations that can be detrimental to your wines. Wine loses its quality when stored in a room with unstable conditions.
Wine Cellar Specialists offers different types of refrigeration systems to meet the unique requirements of their clients. The only use cooling units from trust manufacturers such as Wine Guardian, US Cellar Systems, CellarPro, and WhisperKool.
You can dramatically increase the beauty of your wine cellar by picking amazing flooring.Since it contributes to the overall appeal and functionality of your wine room, the type of your flooring must be chosen carefully.
Don’t limit your thinking to just tile. While you may ultimately go with a tile floor, consider cork or reclaimed wine barrel flooring. Any moisture-resistant material can be used on the floor.
Wine Racks for a Safe and Stunning Texas Wine Cellar
Wine Racking Designed by a Texas Wine Cellar Builder
Now, think about the wine you are planning to store. Not all bottles are the same size and shape, so you should think about the type of the wine racks you will install.
Look at all of your options.
Make sure that the cubicles of the standard 750 racks will hold any larger or odd shaped bottles. They need to be at least 3 ¾” wide.
Do you want to store magnum or larger sized bottles?
Will you have any larger Champagne bottles in your collection?
What about the smaller split size?
Will you want storage for wood cases?
Do you want all of your bottles in individual cubicles or do you want bulk storage such as X bins or Diamond bins?
What about display rows?
Regular display rows or horizontal displays are available in some racking.
A waterfall style display rack is another possibility.
Consider the wine you will store and choose storage racks that you think will protect and store your wine the best.
You may choose wood or metal as material for your racking. Your choice should depend on the look and ambiance that your want for your wine room.
At Wine Cellar Specialists, they consider these important factors in choosing a wine rack design that will store your wines safely and beautifully.
Then there are your wines.
Do you already have them?
Are you waiting until your cellar is finished before you get them?
You’re thinking about a wine cellar, so you must already be a wine aficionado or live with someone who is.
At the end of the day, a wine cellar without wine is an empty wine cellar.
When you’re planning your budget for the project, think about how much money you will spend on wines.
Also, when planning your budget for future years, think about how much you plan to spend on acquiring new wines.
A do-it-yourself wine cellar is not impossible, but it is not easy. A wine cellar may boost your resale value, help you store your collection of wine, and be something to brag about. Let’s face it – how many people do you know who have built their own wine cellars? Or who even have a wine cellar in their home?
Working with a professional wine cellar designer and installer can help you build a safe and exceptional Texas wine cellar.
What the Best Custom Wine Cellar Builder Can Do
Wine cellar with contemporary design by Wine Cellar Specialists
If you want a custom wine cellar that is built to your liking made with high-quality products and top-notch service, work with Wine Cellar Specialists. With plenty of wine cellar designs to choose from including traditional, contemporary, modern and transitional design, Wine Cellar Specialists can help. Check out our gallery of completed projects here!No matter where you live or what your wine cellar needs, we can help. Call us at :+1 (972) 454-04809, or send us a message!
We couldn’t be more thrilled! Check out some of our awards and their corresponding projects:
We had a start to finish excellent experience with Wine Cellar Specialists. After talking to a couple of carpenters about converting a closet into a small wine cellar I wasn't very confident they knew what they were doing so I started looking for expertise and found Wine Cellar Specialists.
I had my consultation with Brad Cupp and he was very passionate about their business and options
Steve Gee
We had a fantastic experience with Brad Cupp and Wine Cellar Specialists-Dallas. They converted an under-the-stair closet into a fabulous refrigerator cellar that holds about 400 bottles of wine. The attention to detail and craftsmanship was well worth the time it took to complete this job. You don't always get what you pay for, but in this case, I truly believe that we did. Thank you for an exceptional job.
Timothy Martin
Wine Cellar Specialists provided us a custom black iron/glass door as the main feature to our new wine cellar. The quality is excellent and the look is just what I asked for. Thanks so much.
Aiden K
I purchased a wine cellar door from Wine Cellar Specialist and had the pleasure of working with Alex. She helped me design a custom door that was absolutely beautiful. This was a very big project and she was so kind and professional and held my hand throughout the whole process. It was an amazing experience. I researched other companies before choosing Wine Cellar Specialists and it was their customer service and attention to detail that made my decision so easy. I highly recommend them for any wine cellar project.
G
Gary Anderson
Great experience with the process and progress completion - Brad Cupp dons well in coordinating and communication. All the sub contractors were good to work with and were attentive to cleaning after work. Plus the important end result was a wonderful wine cellar that can accommodate over 700 bottles of wine in relatively small area. Highly recommend!
Dallas 
One of the sure signs that wine collecting in Texas is booming, is the increased interest in building a Texas wine cellar. In this state’s warm climate, wine bottles must be stored properly, in adherence to the ideal conditions. If not, the wine will spoil.
Win-Win with Red Wine 
Prepare your wine cellar before installing your cooling unit.
Both 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.
