Wine cellar

Wine Cellar

A Wine cellar is a storage room for wine in bottles or barrels, or more rarely in carboys, amphorae, or plastic containers. In an active wine cellar, important factors such as temperature and humidity are maintained by a climate control system. In contrast, passive wine cellars are not climate-controlled, and are usually built underground to reduce temperature swings. An aboveground wine cellar is often called a wine room, while a small wine cellar (fewer than 500 bottles) is sometimes termed a wine closet.

History

The history of wine cellars spans thousands of years, from the ancient wine cellars of the Egyptian pharaohs to the magnificent, multi-level cellars of medieval European monasteries.

Design

Wine cellars can be either active or passively cooled. Active wine cellars are highly insulated and need to be properly constructed. They require specialized wine cellar conditioning and cooling systems to maintain the desired temperature and humidity. In a very dry climate, it may be necessary to use a humidifier.

Purpose

The purpose of a wine cellar is to protect the wine from potentially harmful external influences, which can cause the wine to spoil or degrade. Wine is a natural, perishable food product. Left exposed to heat, light, vibration or fluctuations in temperature and humidity, all types of wine can spoil. When properly stored, wines not only maintain their quality but many actually improve in aroma, flavor, and complexity as they mature.

See also

• Wine
• Wine tasting
• Wine aging

References

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External links

• Wine Cellar Innovations
• Wine Cellar Designs

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