Wine cellar construction specifications

While the following recommendations are guidelines as recommended by the manufacturer to ensure the optimum storage of your wine collection, your needs may vary. Please consult your contractor, or e-mail us with any specific questions.

--- Wine Cellar Construction Specifications ---

The Ideal Environment:

A temperature of 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit and a Relative Humidity of 60 to 70% are ideal for long-term wine storage. The cool temperature slows the aging process, while the high humidity prevents moisture from inside of the bottle from moving into the cork and eventually evaporating into the air. Ultraviolet light penetration should be kept to a minimum. While some basements in northern climates may naturally provide these conditions, it is more likely that you will need to actively condition your wine cellar.

The basements of most modern homes are too warm and dry to passively provide the ideal conditions for wine storage. Wine cellars installed above ground will require active conditioning to achieve the ideal wine cellar environment. Should you choose to actively cool your wine cellar, you will need to follow the construction guidelines below. Failure to properly follow these guidelines may result in cooling system failure and moisture damage to areas surrounding the cellar. Click here to learn more about conditioning systems.

Lighting:

As with many other decisions facing you with your wine cellar project, the lighting you choose needs to be functional and attractive. You will need enough light to be able to read labels, but too much light can create unwanted heat and may ruin the ambience of the cellar. Can lighting works, but make sure that you rough them at least 18" off all walls to avoid contact with racking. The same rules apply to track and surface lighting. Sconces work well if you have wall surfaces that you are not planning to cover with wine racking. Recessed lighting should be insulated and have a vapor barrier behind it.

(even if you are not adhering to the recommendations given on this page, or are installing components individually, be sure to use low-heat lighting in any area adjacent to racking.)

Wine cellar construction:

In order to maintain the ideal environment for your wine, your conditioned wine cellar must be constructed according to the specifications below. This will guarantee that your cooling system will be able to provide the proper temperature and humidity and prevent possible moisture damage to areas adjacent to the cellar. Check your local building codes.

Framing Walls: 2"x 6" @16" on center
Framing Ceiling: 2"x 8" @16" on center
Vapor Barrier: 6 mil polyethylene walls and ceilings. Check your local building codes.
Insulation Walls: R-19 minimum
Insulation Ceiling R-30 minimum
Sheathing: 1û2" moisture resistant green board with mildew resistant paint or tongue and groove wood paneling such as mahogany
Flooring: Moisture resistant material such as brick, tile or stone
Cellar Door: Exterior grade insulated door with complete weather stripping or Double insulated glass exterior grade door