When you think about wine cellars, your mind might conjure up regal mansions with elegant cellars that few people can afford. However, wine cellars are no longer exclusive to the rich and famous. Wine cellars have become rather affordable in recent years, and are popping up in a number of homes.
If you love wine, there are a number of reasons why you should consider installing a wine cellar in your house.
One of the better reasons to have a wine cellar in your home is the variety of ways that it saves you money. With a suitable and spacious area to store wine, you’re able to take advantage of the cost savings that come with buying in bulk. You’ll save a bundle buying your wine by the case as opposed to by the bottle. Or, if you’re buying by the bottle and see a great sale, you can pick up several bottles and store them. Also, for the select wines that benefit from aging, the value of your wine can increase over time if kept in a wine cellar.
Having a wine cellar that is stocked with wine is very convenient. When hosting guests, you can save yourself from going out and getting a few bottles of wine. Instead, you simply head to the cellar and pick a few bottles out. The convenience of not going to the store really comes in handy when hosting in the winter, where trips to the store require going out in the cold or experiencing long holiday lines. There are always those situations where you find yourself wishing you had a bottle of wine around to bunker in and enjoy the warmth of your house when there’s a blizzard taking place outdoors.
While some wines benefit from aging over time, most wine doesn’t improve with age. In fact, most wine is perishable. It is a natural food product so it can go bad if it is exposed to heat, light or if it is stored in a location where the temperature and humidity levels fluctuate. Even a mild temperature spike can ruin a wine.
A wine cellar is great for those who want to store their bottles for years. Over time, a well-stored wine can develop more a more complex flavor and aroma. The ideal temperature for a wine cellar is between 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit. The key to storing wine is maintaining a consistent temperature. Also, excessive humidity can damage the corks, which can cause the wine to oxidize and spoil. The ideal humidity level to preserve corks is in the 50 to 70 percent range.
Red wines disperse sediment as they age if they are stored in secure and stationary position. That is why most wine cellars you see feature sturdy and positioned wine shelving, typically made of wood. When not secure, vibrations in a wine’s environment can disturb the sediment and diminish a wine’s quality. Studies have shown that a vibration-filled environment can reduce the quality of a wine in as short a time as 18 months.
One of the benefits of a wine cellar is that it protects your wines from vibrations that are produced by machinery or movement. Anything from kids running in the house to vacuuming in a nearby room can cause vibrations, which will affect your wine’s quality. Once you lay a bottle down in storage, it should not be moved again until you are ready to open it. You want to store your wine so that the label can be read without having to touch the bottle of wine.
Having a wine cellar in your home gives your home some serious style points, and adds a fresh bit of character. It’s not every day that you encounter a wine cellar in a home. By installing a wine cellar in your home, or converting a room into a wine cellar, you’re increasing the appeal of your house. Doing so will improve both your personal satisfaction of living in your home and the value of your home when/if you put it on the market for sale.
Ready to take advantage of these 5 benefits and add a wine cellar to your home? You’re in the perfect place! At Harkraft, we’ve been transforming homes in the Twin Cities for over 50 years. Whether you’re looking to store 20 bottles of wine, or 5,000, we have the experience to create a quality wine cellar that you’ll love. Learn more about our work building wine cellars.
