Preparing for a Wine Cellar in Orange County, California
Contents
- 1A Guide to Preparing a Custom Wine Cellar in California
- 1.1What are the Ideal Custom Wine Cellar Conditions?
- 1.2Where Should You Have Your Custom Wine Cellar Constructed?
- 1.3Decide on an Effective Wine Cellar Cooling System
- 1.4The Construction of the Residential Wine Cellar
- 1.5Choose the Right Wine Racking System
- 2Wine Cellar Builder in Orange County, California
A wine collection requires a wine storage solution. A wine cellar in Orange County, California is the best place to store wines and age them. This is a basic guide to follow in order to create an effective wine storage solution.
A Guide to Preparing a Custom Wine Cellar in California
Wines require a proper wine storage solution, in order to age properly and to be kept safe. A residential custom wine cellar in Orange County, California is an ideal wine storage solution because it provides access to your wine collection at any time. You also have the opportunity to customize your wine storage room’s design to fit your unique preferences.
The construction of a wine cellar has to be properly planned, to make sure that the necessary conditions for ideal wine storage are met. By knowing the details of what makes a good wine storage solution, you can make sure that your wines, which are valuable investments, are protected.
What are the Ideal Custom Wine Cellar Conditions?
Wine storage experts actually vary in opinion on the optimum temperature levels for storing wines, but most recommend an average temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit, for all types of wine. Warmer temperatures can cause the premature aging of wines. A prematurely aged wine tastes bad. A temperature that is too cold, on the other hand, may not necessarily cause damage to your wines but will slow down their development.
Besides temperature, humidity is another factor to consider for proper wine storage. Ideally, a wine cellar should have approximately 60 to 70% humidity. If a wine storage space is too humid, mold may start to form in the wine room, and even contaminate your wines. A lack of humidity may cause wine corks to dry out and shrink. Consequently, air could enter the wine bottle and cause the oxidation of the wine.
Wines need an Ideal Storage Solution
Other factors that should be considered to achieve the ideal wine cellar conditions include avoiding excessive heat, Ultraviolet light, and vibration.
Where Should You Have Your Custom Wine Cellar Constructed?
One of the concerns that wine collectors raise when having a home wine cellar built regards the ideal location for the construction to take place. Ideally, wine cellars should be built below ground level. If you have a basement, it would be the best place to have the cellar built, because this area is generally cooler and more humid than other parts of the house. Most wine storage experts would recommend having it built in a corner of a basement, with two exterior walls, in an area free of windows.
If you do not have a basement or any area below ground, you can have your wine cellar constructed above ground, but, in this case, you must give extra attention to properly insulating and sealing the storage room.
Decide on an Effective Wine Cellar Cooling System
Whether you have your wine cellar built below ground or above ground, you need to decide on the type and location of a wine cellar cooling system. The most common type of cooling systems are wall-mounted units that exhaust warm air into an adjacent room (one that is at least the same size as the wine cellar room). Ideally, the ambient temperature of the venting area should not be higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit; otherwise, the cooling unit won’t work efficiently. Other types of wine cellar refrigeration systems available on the market include split systems and special units. A lot of these types of cooling systems require installation by a licensed HVAC professional. Contact AC Cool the Orange County Specialist
The Construction of the Residential Wine Cellar
Have a Wine Cellar Constructed for your Wine Collection
Before installing insulation and drywall, make sure that the necessary electrical work is done. Also, a 6 mil pol/plastic (sold in rolls or sheets) should be stapled over the studs before the insulation is applied. Ideally, R19 should be used for insulation, and this requires 2 x 6 framing. You will also need to install a vapor barrier, which is necessary for controlling the humidity of your storage room. A good wine storage solution has a humidity level that is higher than the humidity level of the outside environment. It is the vapor barrier that separates these two variances of humidity and keeps the higher humidity from flowing out of the cellar room. Moreover, in cold and humid areas, the vapor barrier prevents warm and moist air from entering the wine cellar, thus eliminating excess condensation buildup from the wine cellar cooling unit.
After electrical rough-in and insulation, ½ inch plywood sheeting will be secured to the cellar walls to anchor the wine racking. Some wine cellar builders use standard ½ t0 ¾ inch sheetrock, but most wine storage experts recommend using a moisture-resistant “green board”.
The wine cellar door is another essential factor in creating an effective storage solution. Choose a solid-core, exterior-grade door. Make sure that it is weather-stripped and sealed completely, to create an air-tight environment inside the wine room. Should you decide to utilize a glass door, make sure that the glass is thermo-paned and tinted.
Choose the Right Wine Racking System
Generally, a wine collection contains a variety of wines that come in bottles of different shapes and sizes. When planning for a custom wine cellar, you need to choose the right wine racking system, that can accommodate all of the wine bottles in your collection. Also, consider the flexibility of your wine racks. Should your collection grow, you will want to be able to add more racking to accommodate more wine bottles. Wine racks in Orange County, California can either be modular or custom-designed.
Wine racks can be made from a variety of materials, too. The material that you choose depends on the design you want for your wine cellar. Wooden wine racks are great for those who desire a classic or traditional appeal, while metal wine racks are suitable for a modern or contemporary look.
Wine Cellar Builder in Orange County, California
Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is a trusted wine cellar designer and builder in Orange County, California. Contact them today at +1 (888) 735-8889 for a consultation on your desired wine cellar design.