Key Measurements for a Wine Cellar, Part 1

Introduction

Designing and building a wine cellar requires careful planning and consideration of key measurements and layout to create the ideal environment for storing and aging wine. Proper temperature, humidity, ventilation, racking, and space allocation are all critical factors in constructing a properly functioning wine cellar. In Part 1 of this two-part article, we will examine the preliminary steps of determining space requirements, optimal location, necessary clearances, and essential equipment needed in a wine cellar.

Determine Wine Cellar Size and Space Requirements

The first step in planning a wine cellar is determining the appropriate size and space requirements. Consider the following factors:

• Current wine collection size – Take inventory of how many bottles you currently have. Allow for future expansion by adding at least 25-50% more capacity.
• Desired bottle capacity – Decide how many bottles you would ultimately like your cellar to hold. Most experts recommend allowing for at least 500-1000 bottle capacity.
• Type of bottles stored – Standard 750 mL bottles require less space than large format Magnum or Nebuchadnezzar bottles. Make sure to account for different bottle sizes.
• Room for accessories – Allocate space for wine accessories like glassware, refrigerators, humidifiers, lighting, and decor.
• Entertaining space – If you plan to entertain in your cellar, allow room for tasting tables and seating areas.

A good rule of thumb is to allow for at least 10-12 bottles per square foot of floor space. For a 500 bottle cellar, allot 50-60 square feet. For a 2,000 bottle cellar, you may need 200 or more square feet.

Select the Optimal Location

Choosing the right location is imperative to creating an effective wine storage environment. Consider these factors when selecting a spot:

• Climate considerations – Moderate, consistent temperature and humidity levels are essential. Avoid areas with extreme seasonal variations in temperature and humidity.
• Below grade location – Situating the cellar partly or completely below grade provides natural insulation. Basements make ideal wine cellar locations.
• Orientation – North facing walls receive less heat. East facing walls are exposed to more humid morning air. West walls get hot afternoon sun.
• Proximity – Pick a spot that is easily accessible for stocking and retrieving wines. Near the kitchen or dining room is convenient.
• Vibration – Avoid locations near vibrating machinery like furnaces, compressors, washers/dryers which can disturb sediment.

Ideally choose a below grade, north facing location with moderate year-round temperature and humidity levels and minimal vibration.

Account for Necessary Clearances

When laying out the floor plan, be sure to allow for ample clearances around installed wine cellar equipment:

• Door access – Doors should open fully without obstruction. Leave space for ingress/egress.
• Electrical – Per electrical code, allow 30-36” clearance in front of breaker boxes and at least 6” around free-standing equipment.
• Ventilation – Leave space for intake and exhaust vents or HVAC equipment if climate control is installed.
• Plumbing – Where wet bar sinks or drains are incorporated, allow access for pipe maintenance.
• Maintenance – Leave room to access equipment like humidifiers for servicing and repairs.
• Circulation – Aisles between wine racks should be 30-36” wide for comfortable access.

Building in proper clearances from the start prevents issues down the road.

Essential Wine Cellar Equipment

Certain equipment is required to create an optimal wine storage environment:

• Cooling system – Some sort of temperature control is vital – whether a refrigeration unit, split system AC, or geothermal cooling.
• Humidifier – Humidifiers maintain the recommended 55-75% humidity to prevent cork drying.
• Ventilation – Fans circulate air and exhaust heat. Passive vents exchange air. Proper ventilation prevents mold/mildew.
• Lighting – Low vibration LED lighting enables viewing labels without risking heat and UV damage.
• Racking – Sturdy, powder-coated steel wine racks properly cradle and partition wines.
• Doors – Insulated solid wood or steel doors with proper seals contain temperature/humidity.

Installing the right equipment allows you to properly regulate temperature, humidity, air circulation, light exposure, and vibration in your cellar.

Determine Overall Wine Cellar Layout

When designing the floor plan, consider the overall wine cellar layout:

• Where will racks be situated? Perimeter walls or interior island racks?
• What material are the walls/flooring? This affects insulation needs.
• Will you integrate a tasting area or entertaining space?
• Where will essential equipment like cooling system be located?
• How will lighting, ventilation, humidification be set up?
• Are drains, floor sinks, or a wet bar needed?
• What special decorative touches or moldings will be added?
• How easy is access for loading/unloading cases of wine?

Sketch your layout to scale with exact dimensions and use it as a guide during construction. The layout should optimize space while allowing room for essential wine storage conditions and functional access.

Select Proper Insulation

Proper insulation helps regulate temperature and humidity. Common wine cellar insulation options:

• Rigid foam boards – Foam boards with high R-value insulate walls and ceilings.
• Spray foam insulation – Provides complete air sealing in hard to reach cracks and crevices.
• Insulation batts – Fiberglass or mineral wool batts between studs insulate walls.
• Insulative wall panels – Structural insulated panels (SIPS) offer complete insulation.
• Earth berming – Digging partly into a hillside utilizes the earth’s natural insulation.

Aim for an overall R-value of at least R-20 for adequate insulation. Seal all potential air gaps thoroughly.

Select Appropriate Wine Cellar Materials

Building materials selection impacts the cellar’s temperature/humidity regulation and aesthetics:

• Vapor barriers – Vapor barrier paints or sheeting prevent moisture infiltration.
• Walls – Wood, rigid foam panels, concrete blocks, or brick all work.
• Flooring – Concrete slab, brick, tile, or sealed wood are good options. Avoid carpeting.
• Ceiling – Wood, drywall, or foam panels are appropriate ceiling materials.
• Doors – Solid wood or dual-pane glass doors with tight seals contain climate conditions.
• Moldings – Decorative wine-themed wood moldings can enhance visual appeal.

Choosing materials that insulate against temperature fluctuations and high humidity prevents wine damage.

Determine Necessary Cooling Capacity

To properly size a wine cellar cooling unit, calculate the necessary BTU/hr (British Thermal Units per hour) cooling capacity:

• Measure total wine cellar room dimensions (L” x W” x H”)
• Multiply L x W x H to get cubic feet room volume
• Multiply cubic feet volume by 30 BTU/hr/cubic feet to get baseline cooling needs
• Add 1000 BTU/hr for lighting and each person frequently in the room
• Add 1500 BTU/hr for each exterior wall or window
• Choose a cooling unit equal to or greater than this calculated value

Oversizing your cooling system capacity allows it to maintain ideal temperature and humidity levels.

Select Appropriate Cooling Unit Style

Common wine cellar cooling unit types:

• Self-contained/Monoblock – Combined condenser and evaporator in single unit. Best for small cellars.
• Split-System – Separate evaporator and condenser connected by lines. Flexible setup.
• Multi-Zone – Allows different zones at varied temperatures. Good for large cellars.
• Ducted – Discreet ductwork to distribute cooled air. Less obtrusive.
• Geothermal – Utilizes underground pipes for energy efficiency. Higher upfront cost.

Choose a style that provides even, consistent cooling tailored to your specific cellar layout and size.

Size Refrigerant Lines Properly

When installing a split-system unit, correctly sizing the refrigerant lines is critical:

• Measure linear distance from condenser unit to evaporator unit location
• Consult piping sizing chart to choose line size based on equipment tonnage and length
• 1/4” liquid line and 3/8” suction line for 1-2 ton unit runs under 50’
• 3/8” liquid and 1/2” suction for 3-4 ton units
• Oversized lines allow easier refrigerant flow. Avoid lines over 100’.

Follow manufacturer specifications for proper line sizing to maintain refrigeration cycle efficiency.

Select Humidifier Capacity

To maintain the ideal 55-75% humidity range, choose a humidifier with adequate moisture output:

• Calculate wine cellar volume in cubic feet
• For cellars under 1,000 cu ft, select 14 pint/day unit
• Add 7 pints per 500 cu ft over initial 1,000 cu ft
• Active humidifiers with fans work best. Passive units have lower output.

Properly sizing your humidifier avoids needing multiple units and provides sufficient moisture.

Determine Ventilation Requirements

Sufficient ventilation exchanges stale air and prevents mold and mildew growth. Calculate minimum ventilation needs:

• Determine max occupancy (number of people in cellar at one time)
• Multiply max occupancy by 10 CFM (cubic feet per minute) per person
• Add 1 CFM for every 1 to 2 sq ft of floor space
• Active exhaust fans or passive vents should provide at least this CFM

Increase ventilation CFM if significant wine consumption occurs in the cellar.

Select Proper Lighting

Lighting enables viewing and selecting wines. Considerations when choosing wine cellar lighting:

• Temperature – Use LED or low-heat fluorescent bulbs to avoid heat buildup.
• Light intensity – Softer light allows easy label reading without glare. 50-75 watt equivalent LED.
• Light color – Warm light renders colors true. Avoid blue-hued or ultra-bright light.
• Coverage – Position lighting to illuminate all areas and eliminate shadows.
• Switches – Install dimmer switches to control mood and intensity.
• Photosensitivity – Shield UV/infrared wavelengths that damage wine.

The proper lighting provides visibility without negatively impacting your fine wines.

Choose Racks to Maximize Capacity

The racks in your cellar greatly impact storage capacity. Consider:

• Material – Powder-coated steel, aluminum, or solid wood maximize durability and wine protection.
• Rack dimensions – Measure bottle sizes/depths to select appropriate rack widths and depths.
• Style – Diamond bins, sloped racks, individual tower racks, pocket racks etc. have different space efficiencies.
• Layout – Perimeter racks, wall-to-wall racks, and island racks offer different floorplan options.
• Weight capacity – Select racks designed to safely hold filled wine bottles weighing 3-5 lbs each.

Maximizing rack capacity in your given space allows room for your entire wine collection.

Include Proper Temperature Zones

Wines require different ideal serving temperatures. Structure your layout to include proper temp zones:

• Sparkling/Champagne – Coldest zone from 44-48°F to preserve carbonation and chill bubbly.
• White – 50-55°F area keeps crisp whites and rosés properly chilled for service.
• Red – Room temp area from 55-65°F enables reds to open up at cellar temperature.
• Long-term aging – Constant mid 50s for delicate reds that require perfect conditions to mature over decades.

With dedicated temperature zones, you can store wines at their optimal drinking temperatures.

Calculate Electrical Load Requirements

Determine total wine cellar power needs to size electrical supply properly:

• Inventory all electrical equipment (cooling, humidity, lighting etc.)
• Note amperage rating from each device’s specification label
• Multiply amp rating by voltage (usually 120V) to get watts
• Sum watts for all equipment to calculate total load
• Ensure electrical panel and circuits can supply 20% over this total load calculation

Undersized electrical service can lead to tripped breakers, equipment issues, and fire hazards.

Include Emergency Fail-Safes

Prevent catastrophic wine loss by installing fail-safe systems:

• Backup power – Gas generators or batteries prevent loss during power failures
• Monitoring system – Monitors with alarms alert you to temperature and humidity deviations
• Leak detection – Water leak detectors shut off water and trigger alarms if leakage occurs
• Fire suppression – Heat activated fire extinguishing systems protect in a fire emergency
• Insulated doors – Well-insulated solid doors retain temperature if cooling fails.

Fail-safes provide peace of mind your fine wine collection is properly protected and monitored.

Conclusion

Thorough planning considering these key measurements and design factors lays the groundwork for constructing a properly functioning wine cellar optimized for aging and storing wine. In Part 2, we will examine the specifics of building out and completing the wine cellar structure. Proper planning of the preliminary layout and design elements covered here prevents costly changes down the road and helps build an ideal controlled wine environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions about key wine cellar measurements and design factors:

What temperature should I maintain in my wine cellar?

55-60°F is the ideal temperature for a wine cellar. This provides a cool environment without risk of freezing. Different zones can be set up for wines with specific serving temperature needs.

How much humidity is best for wine storage?

Maintain a humidity level between 55-75% RH. Lower humidity risks dried out corks. Higher humidity encourages mold growth. Cooling units and dedicated humidifiers help regulate moisture levels.

What sizes should the entrance doors be?

Doors should be a minimum of 30-36” wide to move wine in and out of the cellar comfortably. Standard 80” height allows easy ingress without stooping. Insulated, solid wood or metal doors prevent temperature loss.

How much weight can wine cellar flooring hold?

Flooring should be able to bear a load of up to 500 lbs per sq ft. Filled wine bottles can weigh 5 lbs each. Rack bottoms have high point loads. Reinforced concrete flooring is ideal for cellars.

What kind of ventilation do I need in my wine cellar?

Passive vents or active exhaust fans are required to circulate air and reduce humidity and mold risks. Calculate minimum ventilation needs based on room size and max occupancy. 1 CFM per 1-2 sq ft floor space is a good guideline.

Should I insulate the walls and ceiling?

Proper insulation is absolutely critical to maintain cool cellar temperature. Use rigid foam panels, spray foam, or insulation batts to achieve a minimum R-20 value in walls and ceilings. This prevents temperature fluctuations.

How do I arrange racks to maximize bottle capacity?

Utilize available wall space by installing racks floor to ceiling and wall to wall. Island racks and diamond bins add storage density. Place larger format bottles on lower shelves. Use shelf heights tailored to your bottle sizes.

What are the best materials to use in a wine cellar?

Wood, concrete, and brick all help maintain cool temperatures. Use vapor barriers on walls to prevent moisture damage. Avoid carpeting or other fabrics. Insulated metal or solid wood doors contain climate conditions. Powder-coated steel makes durable, wine-friendly racks.

What kind of lighting should I use in my wine cellar?

Use 50-75W equivalent LED or fluorescent lighting to prevent heat and UV damage. Warm light renders labels accurately. Install lights to evenly illuminate the entire cellar. Dimmers allow mood control. Shield UV and infrared wavelengths.