WINEOLOGY Intelligence for the wine consumer.    

by Len Napolitano    

QUESTION: How do I build a wine storage room?

ANSWER: For many casual wine drinkers, the wine collecting bug hits sooner than expected and suddenly they find themselves storing wine bottles in more than one location. It starts with a small wine rack in the kitchen, then grows to the fill bottom of a hall closet, or two, and spreads to various cool, dark corners of the household. When wine bottles take over the living room it’s time to think about a wine storage room.
If you buy wine in terms of cases rather than bottles, one option is to rent space in a temperature-controlled self-storage center. These are especially popular in residential areas with a large number of apartment buildings and homes without basements. But this choice requires a monthly fee and the hassle of not having the bottles quickly and easily at hand.
Personal refrigerated units designed for wine-keeping have become more sophisticated and attractive. These look like miniature refrigerators and come small enough to fit under a kitchen counter or large enough to walk inside. Many come with sliding shelves, variable temperature controls, lights, digital displays and other convenience options.
I recently addressed a group of interior designers on what to consider when a client asks for a dedicated wine room in their home. This is a project that has relatively high initial cost but can provide long-term savings and undeniable convenience compared to self-storage. In some cases, a wine storage room may work best in conjunction with a separate under-counter refrigerated unit in the kitchen. With this approach, you can keep wines for long-term aging in the room, and the “everyday” wines in the kitchen unit.
The keys to designing and building a good wine storage room are low light, a steady, and restricted temperature (55-60 degrees) and humidity (65-75%) range, and the absence of vibrations. All of these requirements create the ideal conditions for proper aging of the wine. Too cold, or too warm, the wine ages too slowly or too quickly, respectively, and therefore imperfectly. Too dry, and cork shrinkage allows air inside the bottle, which spoils the wine. Finally, vibrations will disturb the molecular structure of the wines and accelerate the production of sediment.
 When building the room, all sides, floor and ceiling must be well insulated, the entry door of exterior grade, and a wine-room cooling unit built into a wall. A normal air conditioner will not do the job because it is designed to remove moisture from the air. There are many brands available and with some research on the Internet you should be able to find the right unit at the right price sized for your storage room.
 Last, but certainly not least, is the selection of the wine racks. Racks are usually made from wood that can hold up to the temperature and humidity, such as cedar or redwood, although some come in other materials such as plastic or aluminum. Most popular are the wooden racks, which add a warm and elegant look to the room. There are many sources on the Internet for wine racks, my favorite being Vigilant, Inc. at www.vigilantinc.com  Although it requires an investment of time and money, a home wine storage room can be very gratifying. All of your wine in one place, inside the confines of your own home. And maybe best of all, you can get back to using hall closets for coats and hats.

My recommendation for this week in:
J. Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco, 2003                               
Pure and simple chardonnay, from one of the most reliable producers of the Central Coast. Balanced notes of apple and toasted bread with a mild buttery texture. $14.00

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© 2005 Wineology is a registered trademark of Len Napolitano. 
Wine writer, educator, and Certified Specialist in Wine by the Society of Wine Educators, Len Napolitano makes his home in the Paso Robles wine region, the heart of California’s Central Coast wine country.