DIY Custom Wine Cellar

Wine Cooler and Refrigeration Units

When constructing your wine cellar, you must take into account the temperature and humidity levels in the room or area you are storing wine. A wine cellar must maintain constant levels of humidity and temperature in order for the wine to age properly and not sour or be damaged. A wine cooler or wine refrigeration system is essential to any wine cellar. Wine coolers and chillers can come in many different forms, from in-wall or in-column chillers, coolers that can be stored under a table and out of sight, to standalone air conditioning units. Regardless of the form your wine cooler takes, its importance is not to be minimized or left out entirely.

The size and amount of wine in your wine cellar will dictate what kind of wine cooler you will need. It goes without saying that as your bottle capacity increases, so does the price of the chiller as it has more room and materials to maintain at a constant temperature. Optimum wine cellar temperature and humidity is discussed in another article, for now we will be looking at sizes, prices, and kinds of wine refrigeration systems. Wine coolers start at around $100, and can cool around 6 bottles of wine. If your collection is larger (and likely it is) then you will be looking at more expensive units. $300-$400 will get you a wine cooler that can refrigerate up to 35 bottles or so, this is good if you have a wine cabinet or wine pantry where you store your collection. However, if you are designing a large wine cellar or wine room then you will need to look into the heavier duty options. There is no specific upper price limit when it comes to pricing out a quality wine cooler, although as the size and value of your wine collection increases, the necessary quality or your wine storage system increases as well.

High quality wine coolers control the temperature and humidity using a digital temperature controller wired to a thermostat. In order to ensure consistent humidity and true temperature, be sure not to instal the thermostat near the door that you enter and leave from and away from any air vents or circulators that may affect the immediate temperature. More elaborate wine refrigeration systems can also be installed, chillers and air circulation systems are often a must in the higher quality wine rooms. Custom wine coolers can also be designed that are both ornate and functional, serving to compliment the decor of the wine cellar, though these usually inhabit the realm of very expensive to abhorrently expensive. Maintaining the proper temperature and humidity in a wine cellar is of utmost importance, be sure you understand what is required and how much it will cost so you do not skimp on this important portion of wine cellar construction.

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