. Do use a non-aromatic stable wood such as clear, all-heart redwood. Wine is a living organism that breathes through its cork; any odors introduced to the cellar are breathed in through the cork and can taint your wine.
. Do consider how you purchase wine in order to get the best racking system. Do you buy cases or individual bottles? Are you looking to maximize bottle capacity or maximize form? There are countless design options depending on how much bulk storage you want, and display options for vintage bottles and large formats.
Don’t use carpet or vinyl flooring. Your best bet is stone, ceramic tile, brick or hardwood.
Do avoid direct sunlight and heat. Light accelerates the aging process and is detrimental to wine, so install dimmer switches that enable you to turn the lights up for stocking, labeling or turning, and down (or off) at other times. Low-voltage lighting can be used for effect while entertaining
Do use an insulated exterior-grade door that has a full 360-degree weather seal. Glass doors must contain insulated, double-pane glass.
Do properly insulate and provide a vapor barrier in the room. Without proper insulation, the chances of mold and mildew are greatly increased.
3. Do maintain a constant temperature between 54 and 58 degrees and 50 to 75 percent relative humidity (this is where most home wine cellars fail). Temperature should never fluctuate more than a few degrees, and humidity must remain constant to keep corks from drying out. Florida cellars should operate at the low end of that range since the climate is humid.
2. Do avoid vibration, which leads to sediment in your wine. Have a specialized refrigeration system professionally installed, ideally a split system with an evaporator in the room and a condenser outside the house. This takes all the noise and vibration out of the cellar.
1. Do find a local licensed rep who exclusively builds custom wine cellars as opposed to using mail order and doing it yourself. Manufacturers will sell you anything without consideration of how the room was constructed. In general, wine cellar design and construction is not a DIY job.
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