Perhaps you moved into a house that includes an old wine cellar and you want to start using it or you want to build a wine cellar to house your existing wine collection. Remember though that a wine cellar is more than a place to store your fine wine, it is an environment that will allow your wine to age perfectly.

If you are going to build a wine cellar, first you have to determine the location and how large it will be. The size will be dictated by the amount of wine you will store in it. For example, if you have a wine collection of 50 bottles, it won't have to be as large as if you had several hundred bottles.

There should be a humidity level of about 65% and a steady temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit to create the condition that's necessary for your wine to reach perfection. These conditions are ideal for the long term storage of wine. This cooler temperature slows the aging process, which is what you want if you're storing wine long term. The recommended humidity level will prevent moisture from getting into the bottles.

The northern regions of the country are naturally ideal for wine cellars because the temperatures are generally cooler with more humid conditions. If you live in a warm or dry climate you will have to take steps to create the right environment for wine storage.

Fortunately, there are some excellent wine cooling systems that make it possible to create the perfect climate conditions in your wine cellar. You can have a successful wine cellar even if you live in a hot, dry part of the country.

If you are building your wine cellar, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, your wall framing should be 2" x 6" and the ceiling frame should be 2" x 8" with polyethylene vapor barrier added to the ceiling and walls. You can use drywall for the sheathing, but it needs to be moisture resistant. The flooring as well needs to be moisture resistant, so opt for stone or hardwoods.

Proper construction is critical when you're building your own wine cellar. Otherwise, your wine may age too quickly or the room could have too much moisture.

If the house you live in already has a wine cellar in the basement, you are lucky indeed. You will want to purchase a wall thermometer that will check both the humidity and temperature. If the home has a very old wine cellar, you are in for a real treat. You will be able to add your wine, wondering how many other bottles of fine wine have graced those shelves through the years.

Finally, a wine cellar is a fun way to store your precious bottles of wine and allow them to age with perfection. It gives you room to store future bottles of wine and add to your collection through the years.

Written by Robin Saunders, an experienced writer that deals with different subjects such as alcohol, breath alcohol, DUI etc. The author uses an alcohol tester himself and it's simply wise to own one too.

Posted under Wine