Wine Cellars and Wineries: Things You Must Know

Wine Cellars are Spaces Built for Storing and Displaying Wines

Do you know enough about wineries and wine cellars? In this article, Coastal Custom Wine Cellars will explain the function of these two and give examples of wine cellars we have completed. 

Understanding Wineries and Wine Cellars

People who are new to the world of wine may get confused about wineries and wine cellars. The wine that you pour in your glass has probably passed through a winery and a wine cellar as well. The primary function of wineries is to create wines, while wine cellars are responsible for storing wines in an ideal environment. Let us go down to an in-depth understanding of these two.

Wineries

A Winery is a Place Where Wines are made

When we hear the word “winery,” we immediately think of a place to taste and purchase wine, a place for relaxation, a place for learning experiences, or simply socializing with family and friends.

Wine consumption and interaction with other consumers (sharing common interests or experiences) during a visit to the winery can be considered an aesthetic experience. Winery owners often give away free samples of wine. Wines taste much better at the winery than at home because they have never traveled. Wine which has traveled, loses its pristine condition.

In addition to being an excellent place for wine tasting and relaxation, a winery is an important facility that produces wine for consumption. It is usually a licensed property used for wine production. Some wineries have permits for tasting rooms, while others do not.

Processes such as experimenting with different types of grapes or other fruits, mixing and smashing them, adding substances needed for the fermentation process, and storing wines in large containers called the wooden casks all occur within a winery.

Oak wine barrels are also used for fermenting and aging wines. The porosity of oak wine barrels helps soften the young tannins of the wine by introducing oxygen into the vintage and allowing evaporation. Moreover, wines aged in wine barrels are known to have some scents of vanilla, cinnamon, tobacco, and clove, and flavors of butter, caramel, and vanilla.

The different types of wineries include: 1) the farm winery, which allows farms to produce and sell wines on-site, 2) the micro-winery, which doesn’t have its own vineyard (its grape products come from outside suppliers), 3) the family winery, which is similar to the micro-winery except in that it is run by family members and 4) the urban winery, which grows its grapes in a remote location and then brings them to the urban facility for crushing, fermentation, and aging.

Wine Cellars

A Refrigerated Wine Cellar Designed to Long-Term Storage

A wine cellar is a place where any type of wine can be stored for a long time. Wine cellars are designed to protect wines from harmful external influences such as heat, vibration, light, and dryness, as well as fluctuations in humidity and temperature.

Storing wines in a wine cellar that can create the ideal storage conditions will not only prevent wine spoilage but will also improve the wines’ taste, aroma, and flavor as they age.

You can make your own wine cellar design, thus allowing efficient use of space. Wine cellars are a great place for hosting wine tasting parties and other wine-related occasions.

There are two main types of wine cellars: active and passive. Active (also known as ‘cooling’) wine cellars are highly insulated and must be properly constructed using appliances such as humidifiers, wine cellar cooling units, and ventilation systems to artificially create and maintain the ideal temperature and humidity. Active wine cellars can be built in spaces under the stairs, walk-in closets, unused garages, and a lot more.

Passive wine cellars are areas that meet the basic conditions (naturally cool and damp) essential for storing wines. They use ground temperature to control temperature fluctuations and make these fluctuations seasonal. Basements, caves, and underground rooms are perfect for storing wine since they usually feature cool, dark, and humid conditions.

At Coastal Custom Wine Cellars, we help wine collectors and owners of wine businesses in California, Maryland, and New Jersey create a safe and stylish wine storage facility. We have extensive experience and knowledge in building refrigerated wine cellars. See examples of residential and commercial wine rooms we’ve built.

Passive Custom Home Wine Cellar in Southern California

In one of our projects in California, we were contacted by the homeowners who wanted to convert a tiny space under their stairs into a functional wine cellar. They informed us that 200 of their bottles were already stored in a Le Cache wine cabinet with a built-in wine refrigeration unit.

Therefore, we decided to make this wine cellar passive and intended for storing their wines that were ready for consumption. Installing a wine cooling unit and door was unnecessary since the bottles that had to be aged were already stored in a refrigerated wine cabinet. We installed custom wine racks designed to fit the sloping ceiling of the space where the bottles for immediate use could be stored.

Active Residential Wine Cellar in New Jersey

In New Jersey, the budget-savvy homeowners sought our help building a wine cellar for their small collection. In this particular project, we decided to create an active wine cellar since the goal was to create a room for long-term storage.

We installed a reliable wine cellar cooling system supplied by WhisperKOOL to achieve the environment necessary for wine aging.

Active Commercial Wine Cellar in Orange County, California

In one of our projects in Orange County, California, we built a commercial wine cellar in a high-end country club. We had to equip the wine room with a wine cooling unit to preserve the desirable characteristics of the wines. It is crucial for a wine business to ensure quality to create a good reputation among clients and earn their loyalty.

To regulate the wine storage conditions inside the wine cellar, our team installed a climate-control system from Wine Guardian. We used thermally insulated glass to help the cooling unit work with maximum efficiency by preventing condensation build-up.

Do you Have Questions About Wine Cellars or Need Help with Your Project?

Coastal Custom Wine Cellars is a top-notch designer and builder of wine cellars. We provide wine storage solutions for every budget. Let us know your needs so we can help you. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at +1 (949) 200-8134.