28 Oct Maintaining Your Wine Cellar
If you are an avid wine drinker and collector, you may decide to install a custom wine cellar in your home. It only makes sense, after all, to invest in the proper space and design to safely store and protect your collection. But what many people may not realize is that the installation process is only the beginning. In order to maintain the quality of your wine collection, it is important to also maintain the proper functioning of your wine cellar.
There are several preparatory steps that can be taken from the moment you decide to have a wine cellar installed in your home. Here are a few of the main tips and strategies you can use to effectively maintain your cellar, which in turn guarantees the proper preservation of the wine you’ve taken the time to collect.
Location
Although today’s wine cellars can be installed almost anywhere in a home, location still plays an important role in wine cellar maintenance. Many homeowners are looking beyond the basement—a once popular spot for wine cellars—and opting to install them somewhere on the main floor of their homes. As long as the ideal temperature and humidity levels in the room remain consistent, and efforts are made to minimize the amount of light exposure (especially UV radiation), you can easily install a custom wine cellar in any room of your house.
Temperature and Humidity
The temperature of your wine cellar needs to remain constant at around 12 to 14 degrees Celsius (55 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit) to ensure that your wine collection remains in optimal condition. Humidity levels between 65% and 75% are also ideal, which can be tricky in Toronto and other areas around the world where there are dramatic seasonal changes. Creating the ideal conditions for storing your wine means that both temperature and humidity levels must remain constant regardless of the season. With that in mind, a wine cellar must be properly designed and constructed to meet these conditions or many potential problems can arise.
Keep It Clean
The cooling system for your wine cellar is like any other appliance in your home—it needs to be inspected and cleaned regularly for optimal performance over time. Opting to have the system inspected and cleaned approximately twice a year is standard and will ensure that it remains in good working order. In addition to cleaning the wine cellar cooling system, it is also important to make sure there aren’t any operational problems pertaining to the cooling unit or other key parts of your cellar.
Collecting wine is a rewarding pastime—one which many people of all generations are learning to enjoy. And what better way to showcase your passion for wine than to install a wine cellar in your home? With the right preparation and maintenance, your wine cellar can bring an air of luxury and sophistication to any room in your house.
Papro Wine Cellars and Consulting offers wine cellar maintenance as part of its wine cellar service and maintenance program. Learn more about how we can help install and maintain your cellar by visiting our website today.