Ask a Designer: Can I Create a Wine Cellar in My Basement?
Follow these expert tips for creating a basement wine cellar and enjoy a ‘very good year’ as often as you like…
Many of us keep our wine bottles stacked on the kitchen worktop, or possibly a few whites in the fridge. A true wine enthusiast flinches at such a thought – wine requires proper storage, and an everyday kitchen cabinet doesn’t quite cut it. If you’ve been considering building a proper home for your wine collection, try taking a look at your basement – it’s probably the right spot for a wine cellar. Here, interior designer Mark Cravotta of Cravotta Interiors shares tips on creating the right space for your wine.
Insulate properly
If an HVAC system doesn’t fit your budget, make sure the temperature is properly controlled through insulation. This has a lot to do with your geographic location, so consult a professional to assess your situation. If you’re in a hot and humid climate, for example, Cravotta suggests treating the shell by creating a moisture barrier on the outside of every wall plus the floor and the ceiling, as well as adding closed-cell foam insulation to prevent condensation build-up and mould.
If an HVAC system doesn’t fit your budget, make sure the temperature is properly controlled through insulation. This has a lot to do with your geographic location, so consult a professional to assess your situation. If you’re in a hot and humid climate, for example, Cravotta suggests treating the shell by creating a moisture barrier on the outside of every wall plus the floor and the ceiling, as well as adding closed-cell foam insulation to prevent condensation build-up and mould.
Make use of the space you have
You don’t need an entire room for your wine cellar. If you’re tight on basement space, consider repurposing a wardrobe or a small storage area.
You don’t need an entire room for your wine cellar. If you’re tight on basement space, consider repurposing a wardrobe or a small storage area.
Pick wood with a natural finish for a traditional look
Cravotta recommends choosing a wood that requires only a mineral oil finish, such as mahogany, walnut or cypress.
Cravotta recommends choosing a wood that requires only a mineral oil finish, such as mahogany, walnut or cypress.
Use zero-VOC paints
If you decide to paint the wine racks or other surfaces in the basement, make sure they are treated with zero-VOC paints and finishes to prevent corrupting the wine.
If you decide to paint the wine racks or other surfaces in the basement, make sure they are treated with zero-VOC paints and finishes to prevent corrupting the wine.
Pay attention to lighting
Cravotta suggests using Cree LEDLRP-38 bulbs on standard line-voltage tracks. ‘They’re cost effective, dimmable using standard dimmers, and the quality of light is very similar to the best halogen has to offer,’ he says.
Learn how to illuminate your basement
Cravotta suggests using Cree LEDLRP-38 bulbs on standard line-voltage tracks. ‘They’re cost effective, dimmable using standard dimmers, and the quality of light is very similar to the best halogen has to offer,’ he says.
Learn how to illuminate your basement
Consider a track lighting system
‘For larger collections, you might want to consider a systematic way to mark the racks with one of the many available wine room management software programs available today,’ says Cravotta. ‘We’re currently working a wine cellar where we are using French enamelled alphanumeric tags that will be attached at every bottle location. They’re as beautiful as they are practical.’
TELL US...
Do you have a wine cellar? Share your photos and tips in Comments below.
‘For larger collections, you might want to consider a systematic way to mark the racks with one of the many available wine room management software programs available today,’ says Cravotta. ‘We’re currently working a wine cellar where we are using French enamelled alphanumeric tags that will be attached at every bottle location. They’re as beautiful as they are practical.’
TELL US...
Do you have a wine cellar? Share your photos and tips in Comments below.
If you have the budget for it, Cravotta suggests investing in a wine room-specific HVAC system. ‘They keep consistent and proper balance between temperature and humidity in a way conventional systems cannot,’ he says.
Check out other interesting ways to store your wine