South Shore Bar Cabinet with Bottle and Glass Storage, Black Oak
- Laminated Particleboard
- Bar storage: a stylish and tidy space to hold your wine and liquor bottles along with glasses of different sizes, This bar cabinet also features a protective, coated spill resistant Top.
- Sleek and modern: The dresser cabinet features simple detailing on the front panels and contemporary metal handles with a modern finish to enhance any home decor.
- Easy entertaining: bar cabinet has a 6 bottle wine rack, 12 Bottle deep liquor drawer with adjustable shelf, 8 Glass rack and additional storage shelves, drawer and towel holder.
- : made in North American with non-toxic laminated particleboard, this piece of Furniture meets or exceeds all North American safety standards.
- 5-Year limited: Shop with confidence knowing that We proudly stand behind this piece of Furniture with a full 5-year limited. Assembly is required. Care Instructions : Clean with a dry cloth
Complete guide to setting up a wine cellar in your home
The wine is one of the most popular drinks from around the world and is part of society and the economy of many people. Its entire conception, from the cultivation of the vine , to the creation of a label, demands a lot of attention and care. What few people know, however, is that bottle conditioning is also essential — that's where wine cellars come in .
Keeping the drinks in a suitable place is essential to preserve the wine's characteristics and not cause sensory loss. Fortunately, a good wine cellar is not reserved only for large wineries , it is perfectly possible to create one in your own home!
No idea how to do this? Do not know where to start? Do not worry! Thinking about the main doubts that arise on this topic, we created a super complete article with the necessary information so that you can start storing your favorite wines in your private cellar . Good reading!
What is a wine cellar?
A wine cellar is a climate-controlled environment that is perfectly suited to store the most diverse styles of the drink , whether for the purpose of aging them or just to ensure that their characteristics are effectively maintained until the moment of tasting .
Although cellars are normally reserved for wineries , restaurants or specialty stores, nothing prevents them from being built in the homes of wine lovers around the world. Even though they have obviously reduced proportions, their functions will be the same.
The wine cellars can be made in order to store the bottles for a short period , keeping them at an ideal temperature or to keep them for many years. They, for example, take other important factors into account, such as humidity control, light incidence and vibration, which can negatively affect the products.
Its size can vary from a small space in a closet in the corner of the room, or to an entire room reserved for building the cellar . This, of course, will depend on the space you have available and your enthusiasm for booking and even collecting copies.
Tip: Do you know what "wine breath" is?
What is a wine cellar for?
The previous points of our conversation already give us a good idea of the main purposes of a wine cellar . However, before we delve into this topic, it is interesting to know a little about the history of the creation of this type of tool.
The history of its creation is somewhat uncertain, mainly due to the lack of historical documentation on the wineries . Some historians, however, believe that the custom of storing wines is very old, dating back to 5,000 BC
Some ancient civilizations used to leave amphorae with the liquid obtained by crushing the fruit, today called must, buried in the ground for months, until spring arrived. Then, the wines were exchanged between containers and buried again, for a long time, until the person responsible for their elaboration determined the ideal moment for consumption.
Fortunately, the techniques have improved and nowadays it is possible to store bottles in specific environments, known as cellars . Like milk, for example, wines can spoil, albeit in a very different way. Some factors can cause its characteristics to change and the drink to lose its quality.
Some of the factors that directly affect the preservation of wines are temperature, humidity and luminosity. These points are properly controlled with the cellars , which provide the perfect conditions for the drink to remain perfect for much longer and evolve in a harmonious way.
What are the main types of wineries?
The first step in understanding how to assemble a wine cellar at home is to know a little about its main types . Check out the most common varieties in the world of oenology below .
Passive cellar
This type of wine cellar is one of the most common, due to the fact that it does not need many specifics or modernities to function properly. As its name implies, the passive cellar works practically by itself, with only its own structure.
As the main representative of this genre, we can mention the traditional French caves (term derived from cave, in free translation). This cellar actually mimics the structure of a cave or basement, being usually built below the level of the house and with the right conditions of darkness and humidity.
They are a good option for people who live in the most diverse regions, as the underground environment will be protected from external factors. And for those who have a collection with many examples of bottles, this model is certainly the best option, since the passive cellar allows you to house many wines at once (can, for example, occupy an entire room).
Tip: Everything about wine: know the types of corks and their effects
Thermoelectric cellar
As their name already indicates, thermoelectric cellars work with one more technology than passive ones. It is an example of the family of acclimatized wineries and uses electricity to keep the interior of the environment with the necessary conditions to preserve the wine .
It is best suited for those people who live in places with intermediate climates, not too hot or too cold, as this type of cellar does not provide very effective cooling. It works by exchanging heat with the outside and the use of energy to keep it working is minimal.
Therefore, it is not recommended for people who live in very hot regions, where the need for cooling will be much greater, requiring greater energy expenditure. For these individuals, the best option is the winery that we'll look at next. Check out!
Cellar with compressor
If you have expensive wines in your collection or live in a very hot place, compressor cellars are ideal for all your needs. However, this comes with an energy cost, as it takes a much greater amount of force to cool the interior of the environment.
With this technology, you can even set different temperatures for different points in the cellar , making it possible to adapt the temperature to the needs of each bottle session.
However, there is one point that we must consider, the noise. The loud sound is caused by the compressor, the tool responsible for cooling the environment. And if we compare with the other aforementioned wineries , noise interference is practically non-existent.
How to set up a wine cellar at home?
Collecting wines can be quite a hobby, and storing them in a nice wine cellar can be even more fun. The wonderful view of the gleaming wood and the bottles arranged in the environment pleases even those inside the wine world .
However, before delighting in this vision and with the subsequent tasting of the wines in your collection , it is necessary to set up the ideal wine cellar in your home , right? With that in mind, we prepared some essential tips for points that cannot be left out of this construction.
Choose the right place
Choosing the perfect location is the first point that should be taken into consideration before starting to set up your wine cellar . As we already mentioned in our conversation, the specifics of this environment are very democratic and you can choose different places to allocate your bottles .
If you own a large collection of wines or want to purchase many copies of the drink, you can choose a specific room to turn it into a wine cellar . It can be close to the main areas of your home or further away, especially if the thermoregulation is done with a compressor.
On the other hand, a corner of a wall in your living room will also work just as well if your space is restricted and your ambitions are more measured. In addition, this type of wine cellar works as an excellent decoration for any environment.
In either case, however, it is essential to pay attention to the fundamental characteristics of a winery . The environment cannot receive direct sunlight and cannot be extremely hot, for example. Along the tips, we'll look at more specifics that will help you choose the perfect place for your winery !
Check out the best labels to compose your winery!
Purchase Famiglia wines
Determine the wood that will be used
You've probably already noticed that wines are usually conditioned close to woods, right? This is not random and the reasons go far beyond aesthetics — which, by the way, is something very present, since cellars are extremely beautiful and beautify any environment.
The reason for this is that wood is a material that allows the temperature to be maintained at adequate levels. That's why, for example, houses in colder places are built entirely with this type of raw material, which allows the internal environment to be always comfortable for the residents.
One of the most popular woods for building wine cellars in homes is mahogany . This material is very resistant, beautiful and ideal for keeping the temperature of wine bottles within the recommended range, preserving the quality of the product and its main characteristics.
Other good options are pine woods (which have a lighter and more delicate color), sapele (which have a very strong and somewhat reddish color) and oak (one of the most resistant woods that are known). The cedar and mahogany may also be used, and any of them will ensure a beautiful environment and safe for their precious bottles .
Avoid exaggerated trepidation
Any sudden or rapid change, whether in temperature or movement, can damage the bottles and their contents and potentially permanent form. Therefore, in addition to being very attentive to the various points we talked about throughout the text, it is essential to also pay attention to the local vibrations.
Stability is an important factor in ensuring that nothing goes wrong with your wines and that they remain intact for years to come. Shaking, although apparently very subtle, can cause small cracks that allow air to enter or even cause your bottle to break.
Other problems caused by movement are changes in the internal pressure of the bottle , especially when associated with fluctuations in temperature. This type of event can cause the cork to be pushed out, spoiling the contents.
Tip: Old wine: know the main characteristics of aged wines
Furthermore, it is not uncommon for these judders to alter the flavor of the wine , causing the likely future dregs of the drink to mix, interfering unpleasantly with the taste. So it's important to make a firm foundation to avoid these problems.
Keep an eye on the necessary lighting
One of the factors that can negatively influence wine conservation is lighting . It is for this reason that most beverage bottles are dark, in order to block light rays. But after all, why is this happening? What interference does light cause in wine ?
In a simplified way, we can say that the light rays cause, in the long term, chemical changes in the drink that is inside the bottles . These changes cause the flavor to be altered, in addition to several other consequences that can lead to the complete loss of the product.
Light, especially sunlight, can pose a potential problem for long-term storage. UV (ultraviolet) rays from the sun can degrade and prematurely age the wine , making the contents even need to be discarded.
Therefore, it is recommended that the environment of the wine cellar be as dark as possible, without the strong presence of light, whether solar or artificial. Obviously it is necessary to light the area for its handling and cleaning (preferably with fluorescent lamps), but that preferably do not fall directly on the bottles , otherwise it must be turned off after the tasks are completed.
Don't neglect the humidity
One of the most important parts of wine packaging is, without a doubt, the cork that seals the bottle . Unfortunately, this tool is often affected when there is no moisture control, which is important to ensure the integrity of this delicate piece.
As it is made of cork, that is, the outermost area of the trunk of certain trees, it is necessary to adequately control humidity to avoid problems with its structure. When the humidity is too high, for example, the cork can create fungi that damage it.
In cases of low humidity, the product can become extremely dry and crack, causing oxygen to enter the bottle and oxidize the wine inside, harming the product, which can even be lost permanently. A tip is to always store the wines in a horizontal position, so that the cork is always moistened.
Generally speaking, your copies should be stored in an average humidity of 70%. Despite this, levels considered safe vary between 50% and 80%, which makes problems related to this factor very uncommon. However, it is possible to use humidifiers if you live in a very dry region.
Have Famiglia Valduga labels in your cellar!
Purchase Famiglia wines
Purchase the ideal accessories
Now that you know the wood used and some other very important considerations about the construction of a wine cellar , the question remains: what to put in this environment or close to it? What are the accessories and furniture needed to house my collection?
The first point to be considered is the support that will be used for placing the bottles . As mentioned, it is interesting that the bottles are arranged horizontally, to ensure the best preservation of the product. Therefore, the shelves that will house them must have a structure that allows this conditioning.
The most common models are the wooden combs, which look a lot like the structure of a bee hive, or the horizontal bars on which the bottles are placed . In the case of acclimatized cellars , stainless steel can also be used for the construction of these structures.
Finally, the essential accessories for a wine cellar include a good corkscrew and assorted glasses . The most important and traditional ones are Bordeaux , Flutes , Burgundy, Porto and those used for white wines . Each of them has a specific function and serves to enjoy different drinks.
Pay close attention to the temperature
Last but not least, we'll talk about the temperature of the wine cellar . This is, very likely, the most relevant factor for the preservation, conservation and proper aging of this very delicate drink and, therefore, little attention is paid to this specific point.
Heat is one of the biggest enemies of a beautiful bottle of wine . Temperatures above 21º C will make your drink age much faster, but not in the way we would like, but rather depressing the product. Therefore, the ideal is to keep the wines at temperatures that can vary between 12º and 16ºC, with a small margin for both more and less.
Because of this, cellars are the best place to store your collection . They keep the temperature at levels considered adequate for wines , in addition to avoiding temperature fluctuations, which can be as harmful to the products as the heat, as the variation can cause the bottle stopper to be pushed outwards thanks to to the change in internal pressure.
Tip: 5 Wine Gadgets You Must Have
What are the ideal climatic conditions for the conservation of wines?
We are almost at the end of our conversation! By the time you get here, you are probably already adept in the main aspects that must be taken into account when building or purchasing a winery to preserve your wines properly. However, it is still important to talk a little more about the ideal weather conditions for this.
As mentioned in our previous topic, it is crucial that the proper temperature is kept as stable as possible to avoid potential problems with the internal pressure of wine bottles . Because of this, it is impractical to keep them in a refrigerator for a long time, as the climate in this appliance changes every time we open its door.
The wineries , whether passive or air conditioned (depending, of course, the specific needs of each environment, as mentioned above in our article), are ideal environments to ensure that these fluctuations do not occur drastically, leaving the constant temperature every moment of the day.
We realize that the issues inherent to the world of wine are endless , but this encourages us to always look for new things. And in relation to cellars, with some attention to details and suitable materials, it is possible to store several samples without sensory loss, thus preserving the main characteristics of your favorite drink . So, start preparing it as soon as possible!
Did you like this article? Did you know that you can receive all news from Casa Valduga directly in your email? To do this, just subscribe to our newsletter and check out all the contents first hand!
