Wine Cellar Temperature & Humidity

Maintaining proper conditions in a wine cellar is crucial for safe storage.

Wines are enjoyed for special occasions and or as an investment. Many wines appreciate in value, but for that to happen the proper conditions must be maintained. Wines that fall outside a certain temperature and humidity range can ruin. A wine cellar offers an optimum place to store your wine, assuming you are mindful of the proper limits.

Temperature Considerations

Wines stored at higher temperatures mature faster.

The temperature range for wine storage is fairly wide. Wines are safe as long as the temperature remains above the freezing mark and below 70 degrees F. Within that zone, though, there are variances. For instance, warmer temperatures will cause the wine to mature more quickly. The best temperature range for wine storage is between 45 and 55 degrees F. More specifically, red wines are best at 55 degrees F and white at 45 degrees F.

Humidity Considerations

Humidity levels that are too low can lead to evaporation of the wine.

Maintaining the proper humidity level for your wines will keep moisture inside the bottle. That protects your wine. If the humidity is too high, bacteria will grow and ruin the wine or cause premature maturation. If the humidity is too low, the wine will evaporate through the cork. The ideal range is 60 to 70 percent humidity.

Consistency

A consistent temperature is critical for wine storage.

Perhaps the most important part is maintaining an even environment for the storage of wine. While this is true of the humidity level, it pertains especially to the temperature. More than storing wine in temperatures outside the optimum range, spikes and drops in temperature will cause damage. Consistency is really the most important factor in regards to temperature. Do everything you can to maintain a consistent level of cool.

Other Considerations

Light and movement can also cause damage to wine.

Beyond the temperature and humidity requirements, there are other factors to consider when designing your wine cellar. Light is an enemy of wine and can cause as much damage as temperature. While darker bottles afford some protection, try to design your cellar with the goal of protecting your wine from light. Too much movement is bad for wine, too, so create a system of storage that will keep the bottles stable for long periods of time.

Walls As Temperature Maintenance Tools

The thicker and better insulated the walls are, the better.

If you want to maintain a consistent temperature and have the liberty of building an area to suit, go with thicker walls. If you are using an existing area, try putting more insulation into the walls. The more insulation you have, the more consistent the temperature will be. That will reduce spikes and drops and help to protect your wine.

References

• Proper Wine Storage
• Building a Wine Cellar