Custom Built Quality Cellars
This Wine Cellar is a room without compromise. Constructed of Western Red Cedar timber and featuring Display arches, pull out wine draws, timber box storage for individual bottle boxes, wine case display area, highlighted bottle displays and storage for over 3000 bottles.
The wines are highlighted by overhead spotlights and LED strip display lighting. Featuring the best bottles of the collection along the central rows of the wine cellar.
Tannin acts as a structural component and red wines with higher tannins tend to age better than lower tannin red wines. Tannins come from contact to the pips and skins of the grapes during wine making and also from oak aging. A wine with well balanced tannins (where there is a balance between ‘grape tannin’ and ‘wood tannin’) will slowly “smooth out” over time as the tannins break down. Despite the fact that tannins can help make a wine age well, if the wine is not well balanced to begin with, it will never improve over time. There are many long-lived white wines and white wines do not need tannin to age well.
Alcohol is volatile in non-fortified wines and causes wine to turn to vinegar more quickly. Generally speaking, the lower the alcohol level in a non-fortified wine the longer it will last. There are, of course, exceptions to the rule. However this is the case for many dry red and white wines. When seeking out a wine for aging, I check the alcohol level and hope for an ABV below 13.5%. Despite the fact that high alcohol ruins normal still wines, fortified wines are perhaps the longest lived of all wines with 17-20% ABV.
This component of a wine is often overlooked because of the popularity of aging dry wines. As it turns out, the longest lived wines tend to be sweet wines including Port, Sherry, Sauternes, and Riesling.
There are many different styles, sizes, materials and locations that you can build a custom Wine Cellar for you home, here are some things to consider before investing in a crate of Penfolds Grange. At Red Wine Cellars we will always consult with our clients prior to embarking on the construction of a Custom Wine Cellar to ensure that it is built to your needs. The first place to start thinking about a new bespoke wine cellar is with your dream cellar and work to a beautiful outcome from there.
A Wine Cellar and Wine Racking needs to be designed for the individual and the home where it is to be located. It is important to consider both the geographic location of the property and the location of the cellar within the house. These factors will determine the cellar environment, the size of the cellar and the bottle storage potential of the cellar. The style of the cellar needs to be considered to compliment the house design, whether it be a classic timber cellar with Red Cedar Wine Racking, a modern feel with Polished Aluminium Wine Pegs or a contemporary design with Tasmanian Oak and Australain Steel Wine Racking. The conditioning requirement of a cellar located in Sydney or Melbourne will vary from a cellar built in Tasmania or Darwin, as will the location of the cellar within the home. As a wine cellar can be constructed almost anywhere in the home the size of the space may determine the quantity of wine that you require storage. An under stair cellar will have visual and functional appeal but may restrict the quantity of wine that can be stored, just as a devoted cellar space may require a large investment to both insulate and temperature condition the space and fill with lovely wine.
Insulating a cellar is paramount to a stable temperature environment, this is one of the fundamental components for preserving quality wine. An underground cellar in Portsea, Sorrento or Toorak can maintain a temperature suitable if insulated and not affected by the house conditioning system. However an in house cellar with or without insulation will remain at the temperature of the house. The recommended temperature for the ongoing maturation of quality with is between 14deg- 17deg C, consequently a cellar built within a property will require Cellar Conditioning to achieve this temperature. It is worth noting that the effects of temperature on wine are on a sliding scale, higher temperatures for longer periods have greater effect. A Red Wine that is not designated for long periods of maturation, check what the winemakes says on the label for cellaring duration, may be stored without temperature control if you have a small cellar where the wine is regularly consumed and replaced.
Wine Cellars can be both beautiful and functional. Red Wine Cellars supplies and installs Timber and Metal racking to suit your needs and the aesthetics of Custom Cellar. Western Red Cedar is traditionally used as a Cellar Timber as it has a beautiful soft red-brown timber hue, aromatic scent, it is durable and contains naturally occurring anti-fungal and anti-mould properties.
Polished Aluminium Wine Pegs offer a stunning modern method for storing wine. The pegs can be configured to accommodate any size bottle and can be configured for the bottles to be stored either parallel or perpendicular to the wall, always horizontal to the floor. The pegs also come in a range of colours to suit any decor.
Tasmanian Oak and Australian steel provides a modern, practical and bold Wine Storage System. They can be custom designed and suit a range of spaces.
Wine Cellars can store any volume of wine that your require. Depending on the racking system chosen you will be able to store between 70-90 bottles per square meter. Considering the volume of bottles that you wish to invest in can determine the size of your cellar. Many Cellars are also provide great spaces for wine tasting or a space to entertain with friends, ensure that you bring a warm jacket if it is climate controlled to 14 degrees C.
This is an easy mistake to make when designing a wine Cellar, if you invest in your cellar it will make a return on the investment many times over. Not only does a quality wine cellar increase the value of a property but also your own personal pleasure from having a cellar for your wines. Quality wines will also increase in value if stored properly in a stable temperature controlled environment.
The biggest mistake that people make when designing their wine cellar is not considering the many aspects that make a wine cellar both beautiful and functional.
The immediate ROI of a wine Cellar is both the functionality that it provides to a wine collector and the Aesthetic joy that a beautifully custom built wine cellar will provide. A wine cellar will provide immense personal benefits for wine lovers and its ROI benefits become more significant over time.
Custom Wine cellars are often built in areas that would otherwise be unused, wine cellars add to your home’s resale value. When you’re ready to sell your custom wine Cellar will stand out in potential buyers’ minds. It will be a unique and beautiful feature of a home.
The cost benefits of a custom built cellar go beyond your home’s resale value. Storing a bottle of wine within a temperature controlled environment for the recommended vintage cellar duration can significantly increase the financial value of the wine and the pleasure of consumption. Once you build the space, you can strategically buy an increasing number of vintages as an investment that will pay off down the road.
Wine Cellars can have multiple purposes. The best use of a Custom built wine cellar is always to store wines but there are other uses that can make your wine cellar a place to spend time with friends or a place to store preserves and meats. The stable temperature of a wine cellar lends itself to the ageing of preserved foods as they will retain their quality in a dark and temperature balanced atmosphere. Some furniture within a wine cellar will give the space a feeling of vitality and hospitality. A beautiful Red Cedar wine cellar can be designed as a place to enjoy a drink with friends, if its is temperature controlled you might need to also bring a jacket.
Australia’s top selling houses all have a pool and tennis court but to make a property shine out above the rest a Premium Wine Cellar will set it apart. The Luxury home market is searching for features that are designed to impress with elements that create the opulence and grandeur of Australia’s most impressive homes.
Matthew Pillios of Marshall White real estate notes that in the luxury Bayside market, ‘a wine cellar can add a touch of class to any home. Having a vast selection of wines correctly stored at home can allow you to bring out the right bottle for the right occasion. Whether that be a special celebration, a dinner party or even just when you are relaxing to watch your favourite movie.’ There is no question that a beautiful Custom Wine Cellar will increase the interest of potential home buyers in the executive market.
The number of Melbourne homes with bespoke wine cellars has significantly increased over the past decade. This has led to the quality and scale of Melbourne Wine Cellars significantly increasing. This trend has also moved into the mainstream with television shows, such as the Block, highlighting their benefits to home buyers. The Block‘s executive producer Julian Cress said that the inclusion of wine cellars at the South Yarra apartments was a must for the type of buyers the contestants are trying to attract.
“Purchasers get really excited when they see where their wine collections can go and envisage themselves living in a place with a cellar,” he said.
Kay and Burton’s Nicole Gleeson agrees, saying that ‘properties with a wine-storage facility have been popular among buyers at the top end of the market for some time’. There is a prestige that comes along with a home that possess a quality Wine Cellar.
The Premium Wine Cellars are often built into purpose designed spaces that are insulated and provide Temperature conditioning for the Wine Storage. The insulating is a component built into the walls during construction and the Thermal control systems are discreetly integrated. Modern properties such as Penthouse apartments and large townhouses often utilise additional rooms, under stair Cellars and central rooms cellars without direct sunlight for the construction of modern Wine Cellars. The custom wine cellars in executive properties are designed as both entertaining spaces and Wine Storage for personal use and as an investment for the maturing of Red Wine.
The inclusion of a Wine Cellar will increase the value and demand of a luxury property, broadening the market appeal and increasing the functionality and beauty of a Prestige home.
There are many different timbers available on the market to construct Wooden Wine Racks from. They range in quality, look, price and suitability for the job. Wooden Wine Storage can be constructed from any available wood product crafted in any wine Storage formation. Our classic racks are constructed from Western Red Cedar which is the favoured traditional timer for wine Racking. The Red Cedar is chosen for its rich warm hues as well as its natural antimicrobial and anti rotting properties. Australian grown Oak Racks are an excellent locally sourced and sustainable wine rack solution. Tasmanian Oak is a fast growing hardwood that has a soft timber finish. Pine Timber wine Racks have a very soft and light finish and provide an economical solution for Racking a Walk in Wine Cellar.
To find out more about our range of Timber Wine Racking please contact us directly.
Designing, building and creating a wine cellar will result in years of satisfaction. Though there are a few things to consider before opening the first celebratory bottle. Wine cellars come in any size, shape and capacity that you can imagine. However a wine cellar that will add value to your wine collection and your home is a carefully designed room. There are some essential factors that need to be integrated into good cellar design.
The factors that have the most direct impact on a wine’s condition are temperature, light, humidity and vibration. The control or minimisation of these factors will ensure that your precious wine is maintained in its best condition and provide the right environment of the wine to improve with age.
An insulated and temperature controlled cellar is the ideal environment in which to store your wine, however if circumstances prohibited a climate controlled cellar then the maintenance of a stable temperature must be a priority in a cellar. Temperature fluctuations will cause more damage to the integrity and maturity of wine than a temperature over the ideal.
The light conditions in a wine cellar will also have a direct and significant effect on the condition of stored wine. Both Red and White Wine are sensitive to UV light from the sun, consequently wines should never be stored in direct sunlight. LED lighting and the usage of non direct lights are recommended for wine cellars, overhead halogen lights generate heat and natural light will affect wine due to the UV.
The issue of humidity in cellars is mitigated by the wine industry adoption of screwcap lids. These lids prevent the deterioration, mould and drying of corkes that was an issue in moist or very dry cellar spaces. The humidity in cities such as Melbourne or Sydney is relatively stable and while wines should be kept within a range of 50-70% humidity the variation within these cities will not have a significant effect. High humidity in cities such as Brisbane and Darwin can have an adverse effect on corks and also lead to the deterioration of wine labels.
Vibrations within wine cellars should be avoided as it mixes the wine within the bottle and adversely affects the delicate process of maturation. Items such as wine fridges should be avoided within cellars due to the heat and vibrations that the motors create. Wine cellar conditioning systems should either be of the highest quality or be high quality and be ducted into the cellar space.
Wine Cellar Racking and Storage Systems are an integral component to a quality Wine cellar. Red Cedar wine racking is regarded for its beautiful appearance, its natural anti microbial properties and soft aroma. Steel and Aluminium wine pegs can give a modern and contemporary feel to a wine cellar. The essential ingredient to selecting the right wine cellar racking is to select a quality product to showcase both your cellar space and wine collection.
A well organised wine cellar will be both a showpiece and asset when enjoying your wine collection. Library ladders and rolling ladders can facilitate access to high wine storage while box bins can be a great way to store wine that are designated for longer cellaring. A considered wine Cellar design will allow for both the organisation and access to all of your favourite bottles of wine.
A wine collection is a beautiful thing to have in a home and something to be proud to own. When you have taken the time to amass an enviable wine collection they need to be organised to access bottles as you desire. Reds, whites, Champagnes, vintage, locally-made, home made and every other wine that you and your family and friends enjoy. This is certainly something to be proud of, but now you have the task of finding specific bottles every time you want to serve them. If your collection is significant, this can become a challenge if there is not a system in place. Organising your wine rack may take a little time initially, but once you establish an efficient system, it will actually save you time when you’re looking for that specific bottle.
The first task is to choose a system for organising your wines. This can be a paper based systems or digital system, on bottle or off bottle system. Online applications and storage systems for information can be considered more reliable and secure than paper in this day and age. Digital information, such as a spreadsheet, can be reliably backed up, shared instantly and accessed from anywhere at any time while paper can be easily lost, damaged and can be messy to maintain. A combination of digital and paper can also be effective, by recording information on a paper based system that is at hand in the cellar when your collection changes and then updating the records in your digital system. There are also cellar storage specific apps available such as “Cellar Tracker”, this will allow you to scan the barcode on your wine and identify it. A traditional and effective system for organising wine within a cellar is by the use of neck tags on each bottle. This will allow for quick and easy viewing of the details of each bottle of wine at hand. Neck labels can also be colour coded to identify a feature of your wine such as colour code specifying drinking year or price range or bottle quality. Combining either paper or digital systems with labels on your wine racking can also assist in organising your wine. As most cellars have more columns than rows of wines, each column in your cellar can be allocated a number and each row a letter of the alphabet, this will make the exact location of each bottle easy to identify.
As there are many important aspects to each bottle of wine that can be identified a priority order should be created. This can be ranged by any aspect that is most important to you and your collection. Some of the factors that should be considered when organising your wine collection are the following; recommended drinking age, grape varietal, country of origin, region of origin, vineyard of origin, Year of production, Price at purchase. The location within cellar should be considered after the structure of organisation has been established. Wines that need to be cellared for longer periods can be located in higher areas of the cellar or more out of the way places, while wines that will be drunk more frequently should be located in areas that are easy to access.
There are a few reasons why it is important to order your wine collection with some accuracy. Not all wines are designed to be stored for the same amount of time and keeping a track of which wines should be consumed at the optimal time will increase the pleasure from drinking. A well organised wine cellar looks impressive when sorted as well as providing easy access to wines when you want something for a special or just a simple wine to enjoy with friends.
There are 3 essential elements to keeping your wine in the best condition through the summer and throughout the year.
1. Maintain your wine at a constant temperature.
The fluctuation of temperature can cause damage to your wine collection that can not be rectified. A variable temperature range will stimulate the chemical reactions within a sealed bottle of wine. This will cause the complex flavours within the wine to subdue and extreme heat will cause the wine to spoil. If you have a large collection of wine then an Insulated and temperature controlled wine cellar will be the best way to protect your investment. An underground wine cellar or understair cellar can also function as a wine cellar. I climate controlled house with an internal wine cellar will prevent the wine from reaching extreme temperatures, although the ideal temperature for red wine storage is between 14-16 degrees celsius, temperature conditions outside of that will increase the rate of maturation for higher temperatures or reduce the rate of maturation for lower temperatures.
2. Sunlight will damage your wine collection.
Direct sunlight will adversely affect wine. UV light will stimulate the chemical reactions with in wines. Light at short wavelengths that is found in the ultraviolet and blue end of the spectrum will stimulate chemical reactions within the wines which produce unpleasantly tasting and smelling compounds. Although the majority of wine bottles are manufactured with a tint to reduce the penetration of UV light, wine should be stored out of direct sunlight. LED lighting does not contain the same short wavelengths that stimulate the chemical reactions within wine.
3. Humidity can be a significant issue in wine storage.
Humidity in cellars that are not climate controlled can lead to the ruin of fine wine. Although non conditioned cellars in cities such as Melbourne or Sydney will not experience extreme humidity fluctuations, other cities can have a wide humidity range. The cork on fine wine is susceptible to both mould as well as drying and cracking. The deterioration of the cork will result in the ruin of wine. The advent of screw caps, or stelvin tops, has reduced the incidents of wine corking, however the screw cap wine seal is still designed with a permeable membrane, so a damp environment can still lead to the deterioration of fine wine.
Depending on the size and value of a wine collection, the storage requirements will vary. A small collection that is regularly consumed and restocked will not require the facilities of a collection that will mature and appreciate. Regardless of the size or value of a wine collection it should be stored in a manner that maintains or improves the wine.
