When thinking about a wine cellar what comes to mind? A storage place for wine, a quite haven, a small room, a closet, a place to enjoy history, a cavernous room from another era? Whatever comes to mind when you think of wine cellars one thing is clear it is a place to store wine. However, what you do from there is up to you.
So to start your wine cellar journey you should first find a place that you can store your wine in a dark spot away from vibrations with a mid level of humidity and with a fairly constant temperature (optimal is 55 degrees with minimal swings in temperature per “Windows on the world complete wine course 2007 Edition”) Also, remember to store your wine in your cellar horizontally to help keep the cork moist. The final ingredient is creativity. Go crazy and create your perfect place to store your prized collection. I think when people put there personal touches on a wine cellar it helps to express the passion of the collector and the complexity of wine.
I have enjoyed creating my own personal cellar in our basement by using a small room and adding some wood flooring, racking,lighting, and a few bar stools to create my own personal getaway. Nothing beats going down to the cellar
Wine cave in Sonoma
to pick your favorite wine. If you are interested in some creative and amazing wine cellars check out “Living with Wine” by Samantha Nestor. This book offers a glimpse into the possibilities of what a wine cellar can become.
