If you have a growing assortment of wine, it may be time to think about building a wine cellar. Once upon a time the custom wine cellar was scarce; today more and more wine connoisseurs are learning about wine cellar construction or contracting the work out to those who know how to do the job well.

Wine rooms are more than a dark, cool place to store a collection of wine bottles. Today’s custom wine cellar is a controlled environment where humidity and temperature are regulated to allow wine to correctly age without damage to corks, labels or the wine itself.

There are two kinds of wine cellars. One is a room that has been specifically created to stock wine in the perfect conditions and the other is a stand-alone component that copies those conditions. A stand-alone wine cellar is not as effective as a custom-built version, but some people desire the aesthetics of a small cooled refrigerator over a custom wine cellar. Those who do choose a custom cellar have three simple considerations for proper build-out.

Temperature Control and Venting

A wine cellar is used to hold and age the wine in the bottle rather than preserving it at a serving temperature. (A stand-alone wine chiller is excellent for transporting wine out of the cellar to store at serving temperatures.) Maturing wine is a balance of time, temperature and the chemical reactions that occur as an outcome of the two.

Wine should be matured in conditions ranging between 55 and 65 percent humidity and a steady 55 degrees Fahrenheit, within approximately one degree. Wine kept at higher temperatures will age faster and wine experiences chemical reactions at higher temperatures that destroy the taste over time.

In some locations of the country, property holders with basements often realize that the environment is right for basic wine storage, but seasonal temperature and humidity variations should be avoided. The ultimate storage solution is a custom-built or DIY-constructed wine cellar with climate and humidity control using a wine cellar cooling unit to keep the temperature at a stable 55 degrees.

These units are available in an array of sizes and the dimensions of your wine cellar room will dictate what size you need to purchase. Never select a wine cellar system too small for your room; you most likely will never get an accurate, optimal storage temperature and the cooling system will become overtaxed trying to keep up.

Wine cooling units demand proper venting, and your wine cellar construction plan requires either a hole in the wall to let venting outdoors or enough vent space to flow warm air out of the room. Check the specs of your wine cooling system; most call for a venting space at least two times as big as the wine cellar space itself.

Electrical power is also a concern. Custom wine cellar builders suggest a devoted power source to run a wine cellar cooling system. Those who want to use a shared power source often find the unit overloading with blown fuses and other electrical issues.

Insulation and Vapor Barriers

The wine cooling unit is only part of your climate control plan for a custom wine cellar; you also need a vapor barrier made of plastic sheeting used on the “hot” side of the wall. Some people wrap the interior of the wine cellar prior to inserting the insulation, keeping the plastic loose so that insulation can be placed between the studs in the wall. Cover the ceiling and the walls, or your vapor barrier will be unfinished. Once the barrier is installed, the insulation comes next.

Good wine cellar construction requires the right kind of insulation for your walls and ceiling. For example, if you are building a 2x6 wall, R19 insulation is recommended, but if you have a smaller wall of 2x4, R13 may be your best bet. (The “R” designation represents the heat resistance of the insulation.) Ceilings require R30. Custom wine cellar builders should never set up the insulation loose without filling the material into the sections, as this lessens the insulation’s effectiveness.

The next phase is to install a style of drywall called green board, which is moisture-resistant, making it a bit more expensive than regular drywall. Install an exterior-grade door to the wine cellar and your climate control plan is complete.

Lighting and UV Exposure Control

Wine is spoiled by UV exposure, which is why the bottles are normally constructed out of dark glass. Avoid installing fluorescent bulbs in the wine cellar, as they give off UV radiation. Control the strength by using recessed lighting on a dimmer and avoid shining light directly on your wine bottles for long periods of time. Some wine display racks are built with sections that hide bottles from the light which can help lessen the exposure, but if your bottles are stowed in clear view, try to avoid the “spotlight” effect on your bottles.

Other Concerns

Nearly any type of flooring can be used in your custom wine cellar. If your home is large enough for a wine tasting room to complement your cellar, you may wish to give them both a similar look, but never use carpet and rugs in the cellar space. They simply can’t hold up to the required humidity levels without giving away to mold. Mold growth will ruin your wine, as can any strong odor from chemicals or cheeses. A wine cellar should be used only to hold wine; keep food in a separate space.

At all times examine the temperature and humidity in your wine cellar with an external sensor or gauge. Never guess that the wine cooling system will always function properly. A quick look at the external gauge can give you early warning if the wine cooling unit is having problems, or if the unit is showing a faulty readout because of a bad sensor or other technical problems.

Making a custom wine cellar room may call for some consideration to the design demands of good wine cellar storage, however once properly built, you may learn that your collection grows rapidly; it’s simple to invest more money in wine when you realize it will be held safely for maximum pleasure.