When you picture a cellar, chances are that you’re thinking of an underground room with wine racks lining stone walls. But for those of us who don’t have space to dig a new basement level, a custom made wine cellar is the next best thing. Without the natural insulation of metres of earth and thick slabs of masonry, modern cellars require specifically designed climate control systems.
Proper climate-controlled wine storage improves the quality and longevity of your collection, and can be the difference between protecting your investment and losing its value.
In this article, we’ll explore why climate control is important for wine cellar construction, and discuss the basic principles of wine storage.
Why Should I Cellar My Wine?
Most vino aficionados choose to cellar their wine to improve the flavour; the goal is to achieve a better aroma and consistent colour while reducing the bitterness and astringency of new wine. This happens organically when you give wine time to develop in the right conditions. Ageing a wine is a complex but rewarding process that involves three key considerations:
One of the primary reasons we cellar wine is to allow time for the tannins to develop. Tannins are behind that sharp, acidic flavour you find in a young, underdeveloped drop. However, when a wine is stored correctly over time, the process of polymerisation causes the tannins to soften and create a delicate, plush mouthfeel. Many of the big, bold Aussie reds you love will benefit from ageing, as they’re packed with tannins. Wines that are fermented in wooden barrels will contain grippy tannins, which is why many collectors age oaked chardonnays and other woody whites.
The feared ‘O-Word’ in wine circles, oxidation is the enemy of cellaring. When you’re trying to age a bottle, one of the biggest considerations is keeping oxygen away from the wine inside. If you’ve ever opened a ‘fruity-and-complex-when-I-bought-it’ wine and found it to be a flat disappointment, you’ve likely tasted the results of oxidation. Too much oxygen can strip the liveliness from a wine, but just enough oxygen allows the wine to develop subtlety and character. To properly age a wine, you’ll need to be able to control the airflow in your cellar.
Sulphites have had more than their fair share of bad press lately (hello, unfair headache accusations), but they’re integral to the ageing process. Naturally occurring in the winemaking process, sulphites eat the bad bacteria that can turn your wine into a vinegary mess. As such, wines with more sulphites can be aged for longer without risk.
The delicate balancing act of ageing a wine relies on these three implicit characteristics and one crucial external factor: proper wine storage. Without correct wine storage, you’ll never be able to successfully age your wines.
Understanding Wine Storage Needs
Before we can dive into the world of wine storage, we first need to discuss the environmental factors that can ruin your collection. People have been drinking wine for thousands of years, and one thing has always been true: wine is an exceptionally fragile beverage. Too much light will kill the aroma of your wine. Too much or too little humidity will ruin the cork. Too high a temperature will ‘cook’ your wine and cause it to spoil.
In respect of this inherent fragility, the three main elements of wine storage are temperature, humidity, and air circulation.
The Role of Temperature in Wine Storage
Unfortunately, in most parts of Australia, summer is just too hot for storing wine in the open. The ideal temperature for wine storage is around 12–18°C. Once you get above 20°C, you run the risk of creating a nutty, spoilt fruit taste within your wine. If you let your wine get too cold, you may find that your cork is compromised. Too much temperature fluctuation will also spoil your wine, causing it to age years in months and develop off flavours. This is why a quality wine cellar cooling unit is the most important element of your home cellar. Unlike a regular AC, a wine cellar climate control system is specifically designed to maintain a very even, highly specific temperature.
The Importance of Humidity Control
The optimal humidity level for wine storage is between 50% and 75%. This might seem high at first glance, but it’s essential for preserving corks. Low humidity will make your corks dry out, which will allow air into the bottle — leading to oxidation. Too much humidity will have mould growing on your labels and corks, or ruin the seal. It’s for this reason that wine fridges and wall cellars are completely unlike regular fridges. Wine fridges (and wine cellar climate control systems) add and maintain humidity, while regular fridges deliberately suck the humidity out of the air.
A Breath of Fresh Air: Ventilation & Air Circulation
Good climate control in your wine cellar also means good ventilation and air circulation. By creating plenty of ventilation, you’re ensuring that stale air and odours don’t hang around your wine and affect the flavours. Good airflow helps you maintain balanced conditions by circulating the consistent temperature and humidity around the space.
The Latest Technology in Climate Control
Here at Air Shepherd, we’ve leveraged advanced climate control technology to provide the best systems on the market. Our modern systems use 30% less energy than traditional systems and are whisper-quiet. By reducing noise and adding vibration-dampening to your wine cellar, we’re able to avoid the typical issues with sediment disturbance. The Smart Celler SC Series is also smart home compatible, giving you peace of mind and making it easier to care for your wine collection.
Your Wine Deserves Air Shepherd
If you want to get the best out of your wine, it’s essential to allow it to age gracefully. Ageing gives your wine more nuance, a silkier mouth feel, and deeper flavours. However, as wine is an exceptionally fragile commodity, it’s important to store your collection carefully as it ages. The key considerations are temperature, humidity, and airflow — all of which can be maintained by a quality cellar climate control system.
If you want to preserve the quality and value of your wine for the long term, consider a custom-built Air Shepherd cellar. Our quality cellar climate control systems will protect your wine, and our team will help bring your dream cellar design to life. For a sleek look, we fabricate metal wine rack displays and steel wine cellar doors, or can build wooden shelving for a traditional style. We craft cellars specifically for your space and style. Contact Air Shepherd today to begin your custom cellar journey.
