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I’m starting to build up a semi-decent sized collection of wine, and with our wedding just around the corner, Jason and I have decided to add a wine cooler/storage unit to our registry. The problem is…I’m not sure which one to select!

After doing a little research, I’ve discovered several variables to consider when selecting a wine cooler, including the storage design, capacity, cooling method, and convenience. These variables aside, let me first explain what I know to be the laws for preserving and cellaring wine.

If you are interested in keeping wine for several years, it is important to understand the best conditions for keeping the bottle safe and happy until you pop the cork.

Humidity
A bottle of wine likes a moderate level of humidity, perhaps more than a person would like! It’s best to keep wine in an area between 60% and 80% humidity (70% humidity is the sweet spot and 50% is a danger zone!).

Low humidity will dry out the cork and weaken the barrier between the wine and the air. Conversely, high humidity will damage the wine label (which, if you intend to auction the wine at a later date, would be a tell-tale sign that the wine was improperly cellared).

Temperature
The rule of thumb is to keep the wine between 50ºF and 60ºF (10ºC to 15ºC). The upper end of this range (and a little higher – perhaps 65ºF) is a decent drinking temperature for red wine in a room-temperature glass.

For dry white wines, try chilling the wine glass before pouring. This will bring the wine down to a happy drinking temperature. If necessary, you can place a bottle of sweet white wine in the fridge for a brief period of time, but it’s best to remove it from the fridge 30 minutes before consuming. Drinking your white wine ice-cold is a bad habit! Try the chilled glass technique - you’ll be pleasantly surprised (I know I was)!

Aside from the temperature you keep the wine at, you should also protect the wine from temperature fluctuations. If you are moving bottles into the cellar that were in a much warmer or cooler area, try to slowly acclimate them to the new environment by moving them into the basement of your home for a few days or into an air-conditioned room before placing them in the cellar.

Cleanliness
Your wine cellar should be kept free of dust and odors. Do not store wine near cans of paint or a cat litter box because the wine may absorb odors and dust particles.

Lighting
You’ll certainly need to light your cellar so that you can show it off to your friends (or more importantly so that you can know a Bordeaux from a chardonnay when selecting a bottle). Just be sure to turn these lights off whenever you are not in the room, because wine does not like intense exposure to light.

Vibration
Wine (and the sediment within wine) needs to be kept still to age well and not spoil. While this isn’t too much of a concern with built-in wine cellar rooms, you do need to consider this when selecting a free-standing or built-in wine cooler. The motors of these units are generally built to cool without vibration or noise, but still make sure you investigate this area before purchasing.

Wine Rack Design
Wine cellars often feature a combination of individual bottle compartments and diamond bins (grouped compartments for the wines that you have multiple bottles of). If the area you live in is prone to earthquakes, you may want to avoid the diamond bins altogether. In both cases, the bins or compartments should be deep enough to store taller bottles (13.5″ should accommodate most wine bottles). If you have any magnums in your collection (1.5L+), you may need an alternate way to store these bottles, because most pre-made racks are sized for a 750ml bottle.

You should also consider the material that the racks are made of. Most wine cooler units have chrome-plated racks, while built-in wine racks are made of humidity-resistant woods, generally a combination of “pretty woods” like mahogany or Fir and sturdy, wood composite like MDF. Metal racks can scratch the bottle and label and wooden racks can buckle under the weight of the bottles. There are pros and cons for each type – so base your decision on aesthetics – just make sure that the rack will support the weight of the bottles when fully stocked. FYI: 1 bottle of wine weighs about 1.2 pounds (550 grams).

Lastly, consider the angle at which the wine is stored. The best way to store wine is horizontal, however you may store bottles at a 20º angle to easily view the labels (anything over 45º is not recommended). Never store wine vertically or upside down for more than a few days. The rule is to always keep the liquid in contact with the cork. This will keep the cork moist from the inside and prevent drying.

…and that’s it!
If you are planning to build a cellar or, like me, purchase a wine cooler, be sure to consider these variables before you make the purchase. I’ll be posting an article about how to select a wine cooler soon.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear about what other cellaring considerations I have forgotten – or if any of you have a wine cellar in your home, let me know what is working and what is NOT working for you, particularly:

1. Did you build the cellar yourself or have it professionally installed?
2. What would you do differently now if you could start your cellar from scratch?