Tag Archives: Wine cellar refrigeration systems

Wine Cellar Temperature – An Essential Factor to Wine Storage

A lot of people in Orange County, California are getting into the hobby of collecting wine.Wine needs to be stored in a custom wine cellar in Orange County, California, that can provide the ideal temperature for it to mature tastefully. Learn about how the temperature inside a residential custom wine cellar affects wine.  

The Relationship Between Wine and Wine Cellar Temperature

Wine Cellar California

Ideal wine storage solution – Wine Cellar

When people talk about wine storage, the first thing that comes into their mind is temperature. It’s safe to assume that everyone knows that wines need to be cold to be properly enjoyed. Aside from a cool serving temperature, wines also need to be kept in a cool storage temperature. In fact, temperature is the most important factor in the storage and aging of wine. This is why your wine collection should be kept in a residential custom wine cellar in Orange County, California.

Heat is the worst enemy of wine. In fact, this is the reason wine bottles are generally dark tinted: to protect wine from exposure to UV light, which is a source of heat. UV light damages wine by causing the degradation of its stable organic compounds. These organic compounds are responsible for the aroma, flavor, and structure of wine. It is imperative that wines be kept in a wine storage room that has a cool temperature (of 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) with minimal to no fluctuations. To make sure that your wine cellar is able to meet your wine collection’s needs, you need to have an efficient wine cellar cooling unit installed.

Although 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal range widely accepted for wine storage, many wine experts still disagree on what the ideal range really is. 55 degrees Celsius the widely acceptable temperature level, because it makes historical sense to most people. In the past, wine storage in Europe was practiced in caves, where the natural underground temperature was around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, the “ideal” level is actually there due to regional custom and not necessarily scientific study.

What Happens When Wine is Stored in a Temperature Outside the Ideal Range

Residential Wine Cellar

Wines in a Wine Cellar in Orange County, California

If your wine cellar is not capable of keeping your wine collection in a stable temperature suitable for aging wines, your wines are in danger. The following are the things that happen when your wines are stored outside the ideal temperature range:

  1. Wine Ages Prematurely as Temperature Increases

If you store wine in a temperature higher than the ideal range, it will age faster than it should. Wine aging is a process that should happen gradually, because speeding it up will cause the wine to taste like vinegar. If your wines are stored at 91 degrees Fahrenheit, for example, they will age 50 times faster than if they were stored at 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

  1. Undesirable Chemical Reactions will Take Place

Wine that ages prematurely is bad as it is, but the problem does not end there. Another concern is that higher temperatures will result in undesirable chemical reactions taking place. Speeding up the maturation of wines will cause a bad effect on the bouquet of a wine as it ages. Keeping wines in very high temperatures for even relatively short periods of time can lead to nasty chemical reactions that produce foul odors and tastes.

What are the Indicators of a Heat Damaged Wine?

How can you tell if the wine in your residential custom wine cellar is damaged by heat? Here are two of the things that you should look for:

  1. Check the Color of the Wine

You will know heat damaged wine from regular wine because of the color. In fact, color is the most important indicator of a heat damaged wine. Even without tasting the wine, you will know if it has gone bad. Premature browning of wine can be an indicator of oxidation due to heating. A brick edge in a young red wine is a telltale sign that oxidation has occurred due to excessive heat.

  1. Taste the Wine

An altered flavor is an obvious indication of a heat damaged wine. Since Sherry is an oxidized wine, you can tell that your wine is heat damaged if it has a sherry-like taste.

The Ideal Storage Solution in Orange County, California – Residential Custom Wine Cellar

Wine Cellar builders

Construction of a Wine Cellar in California

A genuine wine enthusiast knows how important it is to invest in an effective wine storage solution in Orange County, California. If you truly love your wine collection, you want to make sure that you keep it in a place where it is provided with the ideal wine storage temperature, as well as other wine storage requirements. Among the various kinds of wine storage solutions in Orange County, CA, a wine cellar is the most ideal.

It is always better to have your wine cellar constructed in your own house. A residential wine cellar provides the convenience of accessing your favorite wine any time you want.

Having a custom designed wine cellar is also recommended. Your wine cellar is the place where you will store your beloved wine collection. Therefore, if you want to show off your wine collection to your guests and friends, you will have to show them your wine storage room, too. You’ll want to make sure that your wine cellar is designed to represent your style. Custom wine cellars are designed according to how your want them to look. Moreover, with custom wine cellars, you can make sure that the design of your wine storage room compliments the existing décor in your home.

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars – Trusted Wine Cellar Designer in Orange County, California

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is a well known wine cellar design and construction company in California. They are reputable for creating beautiful wine cellar designs, that range from simple to extravagant. Moreover, all of their wine storage solutions are effective in providing wines with the ideal storage conditions. Coastal is known for consistently meeting their client’s satisfaction.

Have your dream residential custom wine cellar designed by Coastal Custom Wine Cellars today! For more information about Coastal and their products and services, contact them today at +1 (888) 735-8889!

Popular Wine Cellar Ideas in California

wine storageFor wine connoisseurs, wine is an considered part of their lives, not only a kind of beverage to be served at dinners or parties. This is why many wine collectors in California want to ensure that they have a storage place at home that will provide their prized vintages the perfect conditions and easy access. Some even choose sophisticated wine storage solutions or luxurious designs, even if it means going beyond their budget.

Both the ideal storage environment and luxurious appeal of your collection’s resting place can be achieved by having your custom wine cellar built by an expert. Wine cellars are designed to store wines until they are mature enough to be drunk. The older the wine, the more complex the aromas and flavors it will release.

Nowadays, most residential wine cellars in California are built not only with essential components for proper wine preservation, but also with cutting-edge design. For those who are planning to add a wine cellar to their home or are considering renovating an existing wine room, here are some popular wine cellar ideas that you can take note of.

Closet Wine Cellars

If you don’t have a big room to convert into a refrigerated custom wine cellar, this should not hinder you from having your dream wine cellar at home.  With the creative hands and extensive experience of your chosen wine cellar builder, even a small closet can be transformed into an impressive walk-in wine cellar that can be the envy of your friends.

Since the main goal is to achieve the ideal temperature of 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels of 50-70 percent, it is recommended that a suitable wine cooling system is installed. If your closet is small, a cooling system of lower cooling capacity would ideally control the climate in the room, and vice versa.

For the wine rack system of small closet wine cellars, modular wine racking systems are commonly used. Some modular wine racks come with built-in tasting table top and stemware storage. An important thing to keep in mind when purchasing modular wine racks is to make sure that they suit the dimensions of your closet, or else your beautiful wine storage closet will turn into a mess.

For wine collectors who have bigger space and want more unique appeal, custom wine racking is more preferable. Customizing wine racks allows your own creativity and style to be incorporated into your wine cellar.

Basement Wine Cellars

Basement Wine Storage Room

Stacking wine in just area of the house such as in kitchen cabinets, drawers, boxes, or under the sink will ruin it. Wine needs to be stored in a dark, cool, and humid place. Proper wine storage conditions allow for graceful aging of wine.  When aged properly, wine is more flavorful and the aromas it releases are desirable.

If you are considering building a wine cellar at home, your basement is considered the most ideal place for storage. Why? Because the humidity levels in the basement are more consistent and basements have less or no direct contact with sunlight.

A basement wine cellar can be “passive,” or naturally cooled. It uses the underground temperature (depending on where you live and the season) to control temperature fluctuations.

In the summer, heat gained through the foundation of a naturally-cooled wine room can be a problem. Some modern home owners add a heating system or a few appliances in their passive wine storage in the basement. Doing so can increase the temperature in the room and pose danger to the wines stored in it.

An active wine cellar in the basement is cooled using a wine cooling system. Compared to a passive wine cellar, a climate-controlled wine cellar is highly recommended to give complete control of the temperature and humidity level in the room. This will keep the cork moist, preventing spoilage of your valuable wines.

While installing a cooling unit is another expense, keeping your wine safe all the time will save you money in the long run.

Wine Cellar with a Home Tasting Bar

There are many inspiring wine cellar ideas that you can use to add aesthetic appeal to your home. One of these is to build a wine cellar that has multiple functions. For example, if you’re planning to renovate your spacious dining area, you can transform it into an elegant wine storage and a tasting bar.

Wine Cellar with Tasting Bar

You can even request your wine cellar designer to incorporate some special features, such as a stemware storage rack where you can hang the wine glasses, a cigar humidor, and a lot more. You may also want a “green” feature in your wine cellar such as reclaimed oak wine barrel flooring, tabletops, and wine racking. Another elegant piece of art that you can use is a wine barrel carving, which is a trend in many residential wine cellars in California.

Since wine is perishable, it is important to install a cooling unit in your dining area. Elegance and proper wine storage must go together to prevent waste of investment.

Useful Wine Cellar Tips to Keep in Mind

The wine rack styles that you want to use should be based on the size of the room and the ambiance that you want to create in your wine cellar. You can opt for semi-custom wine racks which are readily built. These wine rack kits include wine rectangular bins, diamond bins, curved corner racks, and a lot more.

For those who want a fully-customize residential wine cellar, you must discuss all your specific wine storage needs, requirements, budget, and the overall look that you want your wine room to have during the design phase.

It is also vital to determine the material for your wine racks. Wooden wine storage racks are sturdy and very appealing. Metal wine racks are known for their durability. They are sleek, making them ideal for a contemporary home. Your choice of wine rack design and material should depend on the existing décor of your home, size of your collection, and room and budget.

Elegant Wooden Wine Cellar Racking

Contemporary Metal Wine Racking

Contemporary Metal Wine Racking

Whatever type of wine cellar you want to have or wherever it is located, a wine cellar refrigeration system should be installed to regulate the two most important factors in proper wine preservation: temperature and humidity.

Let a Wine Cellar Expert Bring Your Wine Cellar Ideas into Reality

Wine Cellars by Coastal has been in the wine cellar industry for several years, designing and installing wine cellars in and around California. Their aim is to provide their clients the efficient and state-of-the-art wine storage solution.

They will ensure that the essential components of your wine cellar such as the climate-control system, wine racking, flooring, door and lighting are installed properly for you to be worry-free about your wine’s safety.

Wine Cellars by Coastal Creates Stellar Wine Cellar Designs

Learn more about Coastal has to offer by visiting their website at http://www.winecellarsbycoastal.com/ or request for a FREE 3D wine cellar design.

Creating Unique Wine Cellar Designs with Wine Racks

When you invest in wine collecting, the right environmental conditions essential for wines to age gracefully must be taken into consideration. Proper wine storage plays a very important role in ensuring that your fine wines will keep their desirable characteristics until they are opened and poured into the wine glass.

For most wine collectors, not only should the ideal environment be taken into account when planning to build a wine cellar, but the overall look and appeal as well. A wine cellar is a great addition to one’s home. It can either break or enhance the ambiance of the space where it is built.

Aesthetic appeal and wine storage conditions are both important factors to prioritize and discuss with your wine cellar builder. When these factors are considered, a great wine cellar design can be created and brought to life for both the owner and his guests’ enjoyment.

After reading this blog, you will understand how to begin the wine cellar design process and determine the wine rack styles for your needs.

Useful Questions to Answer Before Starting the Wine Cellar Design Phase

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars 3D Wine Cellar Design

The basic things that must be assessed when designing a wine cellar are the location and dimensions of the room. Answering the specific questions below and discussing them with your chosen wine cellar designer and installer will greatly help to make the process easier and the result more desirable.

  • Do you want to focus on function, beauty, or both?
  • How frequently and for how long do you intend to spend time in your wine cellar?
  • Do you plan to entertain friends or host wine tasting parties in your wine cellar?
  • Do you want your wine cellar to complement the existing décor of your home?
  • How many bottles do you plan to store? How many are intended for short-term, and how many are intended for long-term storage? How often do you plan to pull out a bottle from the wine rack?
  • What are the types of wines are you planning to collect? Are there large-format bottles?
  • Do you want a traditional or contemporary wine cellar?
  • What wood material do you want to use for your wine racks, wine cellar door, and wine cellar flooring?
  • Do you want your wine racking to be fully-customized?
  • Do you want eco-friendly features in your wine cellar?
  • What type of wine cellar refrigeration system do you want to use to cool your wine room? Do you want it to be seen or hidden from your view?
  • What ambiance do you want your wine cellar to provide?
  • Are you going to use an inventory system for easy retrieval of your wine?

Now let’s discuss the different wine rack styles that you can choose from to have a uniquely-built wine cellar.

Wine Rack Styles and Designs

Wine enthusiasts have different preferences of how they want their collection to be displayed. Some want their wine racking to be exclusively semi or fully customized, while others may want to use a combination of both. When choosing your wine racks, consider the number, type, and size of wine bottles you want to store in them.

 

Semi-Custom Wine Racks or Wine Rack Kits 

Semi-custom wine racks are also known as wine rack kits. They are pre-built and can be stacked to maximize the space of your wine room. Wine Cellars by Coastal, a wine cellar expert in California, offers a wide range of wine rack kits to meet different wine storage needs. Check out some examples of their wine rack kits.

6-Column Display Wine Rack

Coastal’s 6-column display wood wine rack that accommodates 102 750ml bottles. This single bottle-storage rack has a high-reveal display shelf that allows the collector to feature his favorite vintages with labels facing up.

You’ll notice that the display shelf is pitched at a 15-degree angle. The purpose of this is to keep wine in contact with the cork. Keeping the cork moist will prevent it from losing its original shape, ensuring that wine will not be ruined by oxidation. A top shelf can be added for additional storage space and to complete its look.

6-Column Magnum and Champagne Wine Rack

If you have large-format bottles (magnum and champagne bottles) in your collection, the 6′ two-column magnum and champagne wine rack is ideal for you. It has 4 1/2 inches square cubicles and can be combined with other wine rack series from Coastal.

6-Column Diamond Bin Storage

6-Column Diamond Bin Storage

The diamond bin storage wine rack, which is 6’ in height, stores bottles in bulk. It displays bottles on top of each other. Because of this, maximum air flow between bottles is achieved. This wine rack also adds a stylish touch to a wine cellar.

 

Wooden Wine Rack Archway

The wooden wine rack archway provides a place for decanting wine. The back, which is open to the wall, allows you to add a mural or any special decorative feature that you want on the backsplash. Your own design can be incorporated into the wall art mural. With this option, your wine racking will be unique and a reflection of your personality.

Coastal’s wine rack kits are made of premium redwood, mahogany, and pine and are handcrafted using horizontal dado spacer bars. They are also constructed with 3 ¾” bottle cubicles and a 1 ½” toe-kick base to elevate them a bit from the floor.

 

Custom Wine Racks  

Since custom wine racks are designed and built according your specific needs, the result will be a distinctive storage place. Any room, regardless of shape and size, can be converted into an impressive wine cellar.

Wine rack openings can be customized to fit various bottle sizes. You can choose your preferred wood and stain options, too.

Wood, metal, or a combination of these materials can be utilized to achieve the desired look that you want for your wine cellar. You may opt for eco-friendly features such as wine barrel carvings, wine barrel or nautical timber flooring, and oak barrel tabletops.

Because of the demand in unique wine cellars, many owners of wine cellars in California choose custom wine racks. Others, however, prefer a combination of both pre-made and custom-made wine racks.

Below are examples of residential custom wine storage spaces uniquely designed and built by Coastal’s creative and skillful team.

A good wine cellar design consists of the right wine racking system. This will protect your collection and display your wines attractively. So before engaging in a wine cellar project, consider your goals, personal style, and budget. Make sure that you choose a trusted wine cellar builder such as Wine Cellars by Coastal.

Wine Cellars by Coastal

 

The Importance of Wine Cellar Insulation

Custom wine cellars are the perfect place to store wines, because they are able to provide them with the ideal conditions, so that they age properly. Wine cellar insulation is an integral part of the ability of a wine cellar to do this. A wine cellar in Orange County that does not have proper insulation is practically useless. Some people build their own residential wine cellars without any vapor barriers. If you are a genuine wine lover, you need to understand the importance of proper insulation and vapor barriers.

Problems Caused by Poor Custom Wine Cellar Insulation

Many problems can arise from a poorly built custom wine cellar. You will have to deal with mold problems and/or the need for more moisture. Also, if your cellar is poorly constructed, your wine cellar cooling system will have to use up more energy to function. This will wear out the wine cellar cooling unit fast!

Moreover, a wine cellar in Orange County that is poorly insulated will have problems providing the right humidity for wine storage. Ideally, the humidity level in a wine cellar is 55 to 75%. Humidity is very important in a custom wine cellar in CA, because it helps keep the wine corks moist. Wine corks shrink when they become dry, and when they do, air can get in and ruin your wine.

Thermal Insulation, Air Barrier and Vapor Barrier

There are many kinds of wine cellar insulation. One of the best kinds is Closed Cell spray foam, which is also referred to as medium density or 2 pound insulation. This product is liquid that turns to foam and expands to 20-30 times its liquid size, creating an air-tight seal. Once it has expanded, it seldom needs trimming, with little to no waste. This type of insulation is very durable and is able to increase the shear and racking strength effectively. This product is a Code Approved Vapor Barrier and has a permeability rating 45ng. It is also a Code Approved Air Barrier and Thermal Insulation.

Other Factors That Help Creating Proper Wine Storage

Wine insulation is one of the most important things in creating the right storage conditions for wine storage. Along with good wine cellar insulation, you need to have your residential wine cellar designed and built by a professional. You also need an efficient wine cellar cooling unit to keep the temperature and humidity inside the storage room at the ideal levels.

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars provides more tips on how to create the perfect resting place for your favorite wines. They also have wine cellar professionals who can provide you with a free consultation and design of your dream custom wine cellar in Los Angeles, California.