Mistakes in wine room construction can be avoided if you work with the right company. We, at Wine Cellar Specialists, have extensive knowledge in proper wine storage. We have designed functional custom wine displays and installed Texas wine cellars with the proper components. Before the wine room installation, there are important questions that need to be answered, to ensure that our clients will be happy with the beauty and functionality of their wine rooms.

Questions That Needs to Be Answered Before Custom Wine Cellar Installation

A Wine Cellar Must be Built by a Professional

Yes, wine cellars are a good investment, especially if you are a wine connoisseur. Consider your wine collection. Maybe you don’t know how you became a collector.

A couple of bottles you bought for dinner became a case for a week’s vacation with friends and all of a sudden you’re reading labels and asking about vintage and years.

What’s next? Worrying about storage temperature. If you don’t think about it, that special bottle you’re saving for a golden anniversary or for when that promotion goes through may not taste as special as you are hoping.

Once your thoughts turn to storage temperature, it’s time to think about a wine cellar of your very own.

Some questions you may have, or at least some questions others at the start of their wine cellar process have had, and some answers. Of course, your situation is unique to you. Some of the questions may not apply. Remember, we’re here to help. Call us at 972-454-0480, or you can e-mail us at info@winecellarspec.com.

Is special construction required?

Wine Will Age Properly in the Right Environment

The fluctuation of temperature is the number one cause of wines going bad. You want your wine cellar to have a constant temperature of between 55 degrees and 58 degrees, and maintain a humidity of between 50% and 75%. The temperature in most homes hover around 70 degrees, and the humidity in most homes is somewhere between 20% and 30%.

Of course, where you live, and the temperature and humidity outside probably affect the temperature and humidity in your home.

The proper insulation and vapor barrier in the walls are the first steps to creating a wine room. These will keep the wine cellar humidity at the ideal range by preventing the warm air from leaking into the wine room.

Without proper insulation, molds and mildew can build up in your wine cellar, which can damage the integrity of your racking and walls. This can also damage the wine labels.

The next step is to find out which climate control system is right for you. After the assessment of your needs, Wine Cellar Specialists will be able to recommend the type and brand of wine refrigeration system that suits your storage requirements. This will stabilize the temperature and humidity in the wine room. Regular air conditioners don’t have the capacity to provide the right environment that will help the wine to age gracefully.

View the different cooling options for Texas wine cellars.

Can I install a Texas wine cellar anywhere?

Yes. However, keep in mind that where you install your wine cellar will affect how much you spend on its upkeep going forward. Also, heat, light, and vibration can affect your wine. Pick a spot without windows preferably (so you don’t have to worry about covering them) and away from any noise is best. The type of climate control system you can use also depends upon where your room is located. Consult a Wine Cellar Specialist.

When does the cooling unit go in?

Normally, your refrigeration system goes in after the drywall is installed. However, you will want to run the electrical and drain lines during your wall construction.

Do I need to install special flooring?

Texas Wine Cellar Flooring

Yes. You need to install flooring that can withstand high humidity. Carpeting just will not do, since it may likely rot.

Concrete is OK, as long as it is sealed properly. Porcelain or granite tiles, cork, or hardwood flooring is most often recommended.

When creating a climate-controlled Texas wine cellar, be sure that the proper vapor barrier is also under your flooring material.

Do I need custom wine cellar lighting?

Backlit Lighting in a Texas Custom Wine Cellar

Custom wine cellar lighting is key to achieving a moody and dramatic look

While it’s fine to opt out of installing lighting for your custom wine cellar, we highly recommend adding a bit of decorative lighting to improve the overall ambient of the space. Furthermore, it adds some pizzazz to your wine collection. With LEDs, you don’t have to worry about the heat it produces. It won’t affect the temperature and the state of wine bottles, thanks to the low-power nature of LED. Alternatively, you can install a chandelier to illuminate the entire room space. The combination of warm lighting and dark-shaded bottles creates a soothing look and feel for a Texas custom wine cellar. What’s even better is that it works and blends well whether it’s traditional, modern, or contemporary custom wine cellars.

How to properly light a Texas custom wine cellar?

If you are planning to add lighting decorations to your wine cellar, you need to know how to install lights in a wine cellar the right way. Aside from chandelier or ceiling lighting, you can try the backlit style. With the bulbs hiding behind wine bottles, the illumination creates a silhouette effect that dramatically adds mood to a wine rack. Sometimes, the color of the wine makes everything a lot more interesting. Another style that’s popular nowadays is accent lighting. All you need to have are several LED strips and run them along the shelves. You can get creative and find the best spots for accent lights. This is one of the best ways to light a custom wine cellar, especially if you want wine racks to be the focal point.

I don’t want to build my wine cellar. Can anyone do it?

Wine Cellar Specialists Texas

Yes, most likely. A blanket statement like anyone can build your wine cellar is difficult to back up. If your builder follows proper Texas wine cellar construction and enclosure guidelines, then yes, anyone can help you.

The materials your builder will need for your wine cellar are easy to find and often used in other home projects. But you should ask any builder you consider for the job if they have experience with wine cellars, and if not, if they work with anyone who does.

When it comes to installing climate control, many units will require a licensed HVAC/R contractor.

The most affordable builder, or the builder who promises to have your wine cellar finished in the shortest amount of time, may not be the best builder for your job. Think long-term appreciation, not short-term satisfaction. We, at Wine Cellar Specialists, will create your wine cellar from start to finish… or work with your builder to help educate him on the best methods when building your room.

You Can Have a Functional and Appealing Home Wine Cellar with the Help of an Expert

If you have asked yourself if you need a wine cellar in your home, then you already have your answer. Just asking the question means that you have gone beyond the normal wine drinker who may have a few bottles on hand for the occasional dinner party or night in.

Because a home wine cellar (and, let’s face it, wine) is an investment, you should be thinking about the type of custom wine cellar you want in your home, not just whether you want one.

Your wine cellar should grow with you and your collection, and unless you’re not planning to sell your home, then your wine room should be built in such a way that it will appeal to someone other than you.

A Residential Custom Wine Cellar may be a nice incentive for someone buying a home, so make sure it has broad appeal.

One benefit to having a wine cellar of your own, is it allows you to buy wine in bulk. Wine by the case is less expensive than one or two bottles.

Wine by the case is also less expensive when it is young, and if you know wine (and if you want a wine cellar in your home, then you must know wine), these young wines, once mature, will taste better and result in a larger return on your investment. It also allows you to purchase larger quantities of a wine that you discover and particularly enjoy, to assure that you will be able to have a stock of it for the future.

Home Wine Room Chicago

How will you use your wine cellar (in other words, what prompted you to ask the question in the first place?)? Will you use it strictly for storage, will you also use it as a tasting room, or is it to be a showplace? How you plan to use it is important to know, because that can affect the way you construct your room, or at least the size of it and how the racking is designed.

If your wine cellar will be used just for storage, then think about how many bottles of wine you currently have as well as how many bottles of wine you plan to accumulate.

Your cellar should be able to grow with you and your collection. Make sure you can maximize the bottle storage for the space you have. If you want a wine room and think that you just don’t have the space, look around at unused areas. Do you have a stairwell? And, if you do, can you build out underneath it? Unused closets? Maybe you use it to build out a cellar.

Residential Wine Cellars Designed and Installed by Wine Cellar Specialists in Texas and Chicago

VintageView Wine Cellars, Metal with Wood Coppel TX Project – Near Dallas

Metal and Wood Custom Wine Cellar in Texas

This contemporary home wine cellar is located under the curved staircase. The racking is made of metal and wood, resulting in a unique wine storage space.

Chevis Home Wine Cellar with a Rolling Ladder – Dallas, Texas

Installed with attractive mahogany wine racks, this residential wine cellar aesthetically appealing and offers great features. A rolling ladder was added for easy access to bottles stored beyond normal reach.

Contemporary Custom Wine Cellar – White Rock Lake Area, Dallas, Texas

This modern design was created by Wine Cellar Specialists for their client in Dallas, Texas. The metal wine racks from Vintage View are mounted on the wall, creating a sophisticated custom wine display.

Dave Custom Wine Cellar with Barrel Table – Palos Heights Chicago Illinois

Located in the basement, this home wine cellar displays the owner’s wines in unfinished redwood wine racks. A wine barrel table was added to add a distinct look to the wine room.

An Efficient Wine Refrigeration System is Essential for Proper Home Wine Storage

wine cooling systems for Texas and Chicacago wine cellars

Wine Refrigeration Systems

Where you build the room will be dictated by the ability to install your climate control system. Controlling the temperature is critical to ensuring your collection is protected and continues to grow in value.

When the ideal temperature (55-65 degrees Fahrenheit) is maintained in a cellar, wine will not be oxidized. Oxidation causes off flavors and discoloration in wine.

Additionally, an efficient wine cooling system also regulates humidity levels need in preserving wine’s quality. Humidity levels higher or lower than the normal range (60-70%) will damage the corks and wine labels.

View the different types and brands of wine cooling systems.

If you have considered building a wine cellar in your home, then don’t ask yourself if you should build one; ask, instead, how big you want it to be and what will go inside of it.

Wine racks are the framework of your custom wine cellar.

Whether you are building your wine cellar for storage or display, you must take into consideration what kind of racking system you want. Wine racks make your wine cellar collection organized. A well-organized collection of wine is not only pleasing to the eyes but it’s also practical for the owner. You won’t have a hard time trying to find any particular wine you want in your collection.

What wine rack should you use for your custom wine cellar?

Enhance the appearance of your wine cellar with a wooden rack.

Revamp your custom wine cellar with a wooden wine rack.

Wine racking systems come in all shapes and sizes. There are two major types of wine racks. First, there’s the wooden rack. Then, there’s the metallic racking system. What material to use depends on your preference, how large your wine collection, and the reason you are building a wine cellar.

Wooden racks are good insulators. These racks lessen the heat going through your wine bottles. This feature is favorable since heat could trigger premature spoilage of your wines. And, wooden racks give your wine cellar a classy and traditional look.

Metallic racks, on the other hand, give your custom wine cellar a modern and contemporary look. These racks are known for their durability and strength. Given they are installed in an optimum wine cellar condition, metallic racks are easy to maintain.

Whether you’ll be using your custom wine cellar for storage or display, making a well-informed decision on what wine rack to use could make the most of the functionality for each variant.

Category Archives: texas custom wine cellar

Things to Think About Before Installing a Texas Custom Wine cellar in Your Home