Category Archives: wine cellar design

Identifying Wines for Long Term and Short Term Wine Storage

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Wines generally taste better when allowed to age. But wines vary in the amount of time they need to be stored in a wine cellar in Vancouver, Canada. Learn the difference between short term and long term wine storage.

Short Term vs. Long Term Wine Storage in Vancouver, Canada

Wines are best kept safe when stored in a residential custom wine cellar built in Vancouver, Canada. But different wines have different storage requirements. There are types of wines that can and should be enjoyed after a few months, while others take many years to reach their best flavor.

It is important to learn the difference between short term and long term wine storage, because how long you store your wine will determine which method of wine storage you should use.

Wines in a Wine Cellar

Which Wines are for Long Term Storage and Which are for Short Term?

What is Short Term Wine Storage?

Short term wine storage keeping wine in a wine storage solution for a maximum of 6 months before its consumption. But it is recommended by many wine experts that, even when you are not planning on long term aging for short term storage wines, the wines are still stored in conditions that resemble those necessary for long term storage, so that you can sure of the maintained/improved quality of your wines.

The Ideal Conditions for Short Term Wine Storage

Although you will not necessarily be aging short term storage wines, a stable temperature is still very important, to protect wines from spoiling. Ideally, the temperature in a wine cellar should be within 50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit, with minimal to no fluctuations. Frequent fluctuations can cause premature aging. Moreover, make sure that the wine storage room is free from vibrations, and is odorless. It is also recommended to keep wines lying on their sides, to ensure that the cork is in constant contact with the wine.

Ideal Storage Solution for Short Term Storage Wines

A wine refrigerator is the most ideal wine storage solution for short term wine storage. Wine coolers are cost-efficient, and are offered in convenient sizes. Wine fridges protect wines from vibration, and also allow them to be kept on their sides, so that the corks are kept moist. Unlike a regular refrigerator, you can be sure that a wine refrigerator will keep your wines in an odor-free environment. Strong odors can negatively affect the flavor and aroma of your wines.

If you are not ready to buy a wine refrigerator yet, you can use a cool, dark place in your home as a temporary alternative. Find a place that is rarely used, like a closet, or a portion of your basement. Wines can be kept safe if kept in a box, or on wine racks lying on their side. However, before you serve your wines, make sure that cooled to their respective ideal serving temperatures.

Wine Cellar Wine Storage

Wines Stored in a Wine Cellar in Canada

What is Long Term Wine Storage?

Long term wine storage is for wines that need to be stored in a home custom wine cellar longer than 6 months before they can be best enjoyed. This also often refers to wine that needs to be aged longer than 6 months to develop their flavors properly. But there are times when wines end up in long term storage because of sheer quantity. For example, you purchased several cases from a winery you recently visited. While you are not necessarily aging the wines, there is a huge chance that they’ll be stored in your wine cellar longer than they should be, because you won’t be able to consume them all in 6 months!

Ideal Storage Solution for Short Term Storage Wines

The ideal conditions for proper long term wine storage include a dark location that is high in humidity and low in temperature. The temperature and humidity should be stable. Also, the location should be free from vibrations.

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Mistakes in Wine Cellar Construction that can Affect the Wine Room’s Effectiveness

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Wine cellars, whether for residential or commercial purposes, need to be designed and built by an expert. Wine cellars are not mere storage spaces. They area safe haven for wines, and ensure that their quality is preserved and that their aroma and flavors develop. If there are mistakes in the construction of a wine cellar, or if there are important elements that are overlooked, the result can be disastrous for wines.

The Need for Proper Wine Cellar Construction by a Wine Cellar Expert

More and more people understand the need to invest in a wine storage solution. You cannot start a wine collection without having a storage space for them to age within. The problem is that there are still many people who think that they can have their wine cellar built by a carpenter, or worse,try to undertake the task themselves.

It is imperative to understand that a wine cellar has many wine cellar construction specifications that must be met in order for it to become an effective wine storage solution. This is why a wine cellar should be designed and built by a wine cellar expert.

A wine cellar expert will make sure that the essentials of a wine cellar are covered. They help you determine what wine racks will look and work best in your wine cellar. They also give advice on what type of wine cellar door is best suited for your storage room,recommendations on the type of wall and ceiling treatment most appropriate for your wine cellar,and suggestions on the style of wine cellar floor. All of these elements are important in the construction of the cellar, and largely influence its price.

5 Common Mistakes in Wine Cellar Construction

Proper wine cellar construction is needed to avoid problems in the wine storage room’s capability to provide the ideal storage conditions for your wine collection. The problems that arise in a wine cellar can be linked to these 5 common mistakes in the construction process:

1. Mistakes in the Construction of the Wine Room Walls and Installation of Proper Insulation

When having a wine cellar constructed in Vancouver, Canada, you should pay attention to the walls and the insulation. A common mistake is the improper installation of the vapor barrier, which results in humidity problems, and ultimately mold and mildew growth in the wine room. The temperature and humidity inside a custom wine cellar in Vancouver, Canada should be significantly different from the temperature and humidity outside it. This is why it has be completely sealed off with 6 mil polyethylene film: to make sure that no moisture can enter the room. The film should be installed on the warm side of the wall, between the studs, wrapping the entire room and ceiling . Insulation is to be installed after.

Proper insulation selection and correct installation are critical to your wine storage room’s efficiency,aiming to keep a space cooler than its surrounding spaces. The most commonly used material is fiberglass insulation with the highest R value possible. For 2 x 4 studs, R 13 is recommended, while R 19 is suggested for 2 x 6 studs. In the installation of the insulation, small nooks and crevices are often overlooked. These spaces, if left unprotected, can become a pathway for heat and moisture. Use a spray insulating foam sealant to seal these spaces.

2. Wrong Wine Cellar Cooling Unit Size

Wine cellars in Vancouver, Canada should not have just any wine cellar cooling unit. The unit should be the appropriate size for the particular space. A wine cellar cooling expert can help you determine the right wine cellar refrigeration system size for your wine storage room. There are so many things to be considered in order to determine the size and type of wine cellar cooling system best for your cellar. If you base the wine cellar cooling unit solely on the cubic feet of space in the room, you could end up under sizing the unit, and subsequently cause it to run excessively and there by shorten its lifespan. A few of the things checked in order to determine the appropriate unit include the type of insulation used, the type of wine cellar door, the amount and type of glass windows in the room, the types and wattage of the wine cellar lighting, the number of people most often inside the wine cellar room, etc.

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Wine Cellar Flooring Options in Vancouver, Canada

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Your home custom wine cellar in Vancouver, Canada should not only be functional and durable, but also well-designed. One of the ways you can make your wine cellar look aesthetically pleasing is to have beautiful wine cellar flooring. Learn about the many options available for wine cellar flooring in Vancouver, Canada.

Wine Cellar Flooring Contributes to Your Wine Storage Room’s Aesthetic Appeal

A residential custom wine cellar is not just a storage place. It is also a place to display your wine collection for your guests to see. Since it is where you can brag about wines, you want to make sure that your storage place is worth bragging about, too. Wine cellars should have a beautiful design. Each part of a custom wine cellar contributes to the overall beauty of the storage room. When choosing a design for your residential wine cellar, one of the things that you need to consider is the wine cellar flooring.

Basic Tips on Choosing Custom Wine Cellar Flooring Materials

In Vancouver, Canada, there are various options in materials that can be used for residential custom wine cellar flooring. You can choose whichever suits your personal preference, but there are a few rules to keep in mind.

1. Why NO to Carpeting?

Never use carpeting for your wine cellar flooring. The environment inside a custom wine cellar is cool and humid, because this is what is required for wines to be age. With these conditions, mold can form in the fibers of carpets. Mold is not only unsanitary, but will also ruin the aesthetic appeal of your wine cellar. Moreover, carpet should not be used in wine cellars because it is difficult to maintain. If wine spills on the carpet or if a bottle breaks on it, you will have an immensely difficult time cleaning it up.

2. Seal Concrete and Install a Vapor Barrier

It is common for wine cellars in Vancouver to be constructed in the lower levels of a home, and because of that, the flooring materials are often installed over concrete. In cases like these, the concrete must first be sealed, and a vapor barrier must be installed, before laying out any flooring material. This is especially important because you will be installing a wine cellar refrigerator in the space, so that the humidity and temperature will be maintained in the ideal levels constantly. Generally, the vapor barrier is installed on the warm side of the wall.

3. Consider the Weight Load that the Material Can Take

When choosing what material to use for your custom wine cellar flooring, it is important to check the weight load that a material will be able to take. Wine bottles are very heavy. Add to that the weight of the cabinetry, racking, etc. The wine cellar flooring material that you need therefore depends on the overall size and components of your wine cellar, and the size and type of your wine collection. The material you choose should be able to withstand pressure.

A Few Options for Custom Wine Cellar Flooring in Vancouver, Canada

There are various options of wine cellar flooring materials to choose from. Regardless of what material you choose, it should complement the overall design of your wine storage room. It should also reflect your personal style. Here are a few of the most popular choices:

1. Wood

Sealed hardwood is the most common material used for wine cellar flooring. When constructing a custom wine cellar, proper preparation should be done before laying the hardwood. Hardwood wine cellar flooring in Canada also comes in various designs, such as detailed patterns, mosaic, and inlaid medallions. If you want to apply a stain or sealing agent to the wood flooring, make sure that you use a product that has low to zero toxicity, so that it does not negatively affect the flavor of your wines.

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Vancouver Canada Residential Wine Cellar Renovation Project

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The collection of every wine lover, whether he has few, a hundred bottles or more, deserves to be displayed elegantly in a wine cellar. One’s residential wine cellar must be climate-controlled to protect wine from being ruined by harmful external factors such as light and vibration.

The demand for wine cellars is on the rise in many parts of the world because of their important role in preserving wine’s quality and the fact that they add resale value to your home. Shawn Li is one of the residents in Vancouver, Canada who wanted to have both a functional and beautiful wine cellar in his own home.

The extensive experience and skillful hands of the Blue Grouse Wine Cellars design and installation team resulted in another remarkable wine cellar renovation project in Vancouver, Canada.

3D Custom Wine Cellar Design – Shawn Li Project Canada

As a standard operating procedure, the custom wine cellar design process started with interviewing the client to know every detail of his space, wine storage, and aesthetic requirements. Since Blue Grouse’s installer and the owners didn’t speak the same language, this process was not easy. However, the nanny and a friend of theirs performed the role of the translator, so Blue Grouse was able to know exactly what the owners wanted their wine cellar to look like.

Wine Cellar Construction – Achieving Proper Wine Storage

The house was old, and their previous wine cellar builder was not able to meet their specific requirements, so a major renovation was needed. The challenges included straightening and leveling the room’s existing framing, framing the supporting beam, and adjusting the bulkheads above the racking to match the height of the wine racks.

As a solution to the unleveled concrete floor, level bases with scribed trim were built so that the wine racks would have a platform to stand on. If the owner wants to level the floor sometime in the future, the existing wine racking need not be modified or removed.

The ideal environment for wine has a temperature of 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity of 50-70 percent. Proper wall insulation and vapor barrier installation are required to meet these conditions.

A tightly sealed wine cellar door is also important in preventing external factors and temperature fluctuations from ruining the wines. Blue Grouse Wine Cellars used a door of exterior grade with weather stripping to keep the cool air in the wine cellar.

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Wine Storage & Wooden Wine Racks in Vancouver, Canada

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Having a residential custom wine cellar built in your home in Vancouver, Canada is one of the best decisions you can make for your beloved wine collection. Your wines need the best conditions in order to mature tastefully. The ideal humidity and temperature levels for wine storage can be met if you have a home wine cellar in Canada with a good wine cellar cooling system installed.

Wine racks are an essential part of a custom wine cellar in Canada. Wine racks can be made from various kinds of materials, but the most popular are wooden wine racks in Vancouver, Canada. Wooden wine racks are also considered to be an exceptionally beautiful kind.

There are many approaches to having wine racks in Canada, which include having a carpenter build them, buying wine rack kits, or having a wine rack company design and construct them. Learn about each option by reading through this article.

Wooden Wine Racks in Canada Built by a Carpenter

Some wine collectors choose to have their wine racking built by a carpenter. This is one of the most common approaches to wine racking. Generally, carpenters who build wine racks are highly dependent on a detailed design that you provide them. The problem is, most carpenters have no idea of the size of wine bottles, nor about how to size the openings correctly. There have been many cases wherein a carpenter built the openings of the individual racks too big for the bottles. Carpenters, no matter how good they are, are generally very dependent on the design provided to them, and if there is something wrong with the details of the design (e.g. dimensions and measurements), the construction will be faulty.

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