Frequently Asked Questions

In general, actively conditioned wine cellars, those highly insulated with proper construction, are better for storing fine wines than passive wine cellars which rely on natural cooling and moisture. Proper wine storage requires constant temperature and humidity control that a passively cooled wine cellar might not always be able to deliver. A high-quality mechanical cooling system will maintain a constant cool temperature and assist with humidity control to promote the proper aging of your wine. Learn more about the ideal conditions for storing wine.

The basements of most modern homes are too warm and dry to passively provide the ideal conditions for wine storage. In most cases, it is necessary to actively condition the environment inside the wine cellar. The most common conditioning unit on the market is a through wall system that is similar to a common room air conditioner. These units remove heat from the cellar space and blow it into a room on the other side of the wall. A workroom or utility area in your basement is ideal for this. More sophisticated ducted and ducted split cooling systems allow for more flexibility and remote heat exhaustion.

See our Wine Bottle Storage Charts to help you understand which bottles fit into our various wine racks.

The chart below shows the approximate number of bottles of wine that will fit in a wine cellar space. For example, a 5′ x 10′ room with a 90″ ceiling height will accommodate about 950 bottles. This number varies greatly depending on your cellar design. If you have questions call us: (888) 556-2032 or email us: info@vigilantinc.com Ceiling Height 84” 90” 96” 104” Room Dimension Number of Bottles 5′ x 5′ 540 594 648 702 5′ x 10′ 880 968 1056 1144 10′ x 10′ 1400 1540 1680 1820 10′ x 15′ 1960 2156 2352 2548 15′ x 15′ 2520 2772 3024 3276 15′ x 20′ 3040 3344 3648 3952 20′ x 20′ 3580 3938 4296 4654 20′ x 25′ 4100 4510 4920 5330 25′ x 25′ 4600 5060 5520 5980 Use our Average Wine Bottle Capacity Calculator to determine how big a wine cellar you need to store your desired number of bottles.

If you love wine and want to collect and age it, then a wine cellar or conditioned wine cabinet is a necessity. Wine is alive and it responds to its environment. In fact, a wine’s surroundings will determine its ideal maturity date and will also impact its character when it is consumed. There are four key elements that need to be controlled to protect your wine for extended periods of time. These elements are temperature, humidity, light and vibration. 1) Temperature: An important long-term storage factor. Temperature levels in a wine cellar must be cool and constant. The generally accepted proper wine storage temperature for storing wine is approximately 55° F or 13° Celsius, although a range of 50° to 60°F is considered acceptable. White wines prefer it as cool as 45 degrees. It is also important that there is little or no variation in this temperature over time. In general, higher temperatures make wines age faster, while cooler temperatures slow the aging process. Higher temperatures may also cause alcohol separation. When temperatures become too low, however, deposits or other suspensions may develop in the wine. Sudden or wide fluctuations in a wine’s temperature will interrupt the proper aging process. Temperature variations not only shrink and swell the cork, but they may also directly affect the organic components in the wine. Gradual fluctuations of up to 10°F between seasons will not likely damage your wine, however, more frequent fluctuations of this magnitude will negatively affect the proper aging process. 2) Humidity: For long-term wine storage, a relative humidity of about 65% at approximately 55°F is ideal, however, a range between 60% and 80% is acceptable. Wine is stored on its side so that the wine is in contact with the cork at all times, keeping the cork wet. Humidity levels in a wine cellar are not a factor for bottles that are hermetically sealed with mechanisms like a screw top. With corked bottles, low humidity levels will dry the air-side of the cork, allowing for air leakage or capillary pull action of the wine toward the dry side of the cork. This allows oxygen to come in contact with the wine, promoting aging. High humidity levels will not harm the wine. In fact, to a true oenophile, moldy wine bottles may be an indication that the wine has been stored properly for long periods of time. Cardboard boxes will not survive in cellars with high humidity levels, and should therefore be removed from the cellar. These boxes will become soggy and structurally unsound, thus putting your wine at risk. 3) Light: Ultraviolet light causes premature aging of wines. Ultraviolet light breaks down some of the complex components in wine and may even produce unpleasant aromas. Sparkling wines are the most sensitive to light and should be stored in the darkest part of your cellar. Cellars should only be lit during periods of use and fluorescent light sources should be substituted by either low ambient incandescent or LED sources. Infrequent light exposure won’t have a negative impact on your wine collection. 4) Vibration: While generally not a problem in residential wine cellars, excessive vibration can disturb a wine’s sediment balance. Sediments are meant to fall out of wine and vibration could reintroduce them back into liquid form. Wine should be organized and stored away from cooling system vibrations. Additional considerations: Wine should always be stored away from strong smelling compounds and foods. Aromatic woods such as cedar should never be used in storage racking or boxes. Strong odors can penetrate a weakened cork and can eventually change a wine’s flavor.