A wine cellar is an obligatory attribute of the personal plot of any self-respecting winemaker. The need to store wine in a specially designated room is due to strict requirements for air humidity, temperature and lighting levels, the observance of which allows you to get a really high-quality aged product.

In this article we will tell you how to make a wine cellar with your own hands. Construction technology, design and finishing options will be presented, as well as an overview of equipment for maintaining the required microclimate inside the cellar.

1 Construction of a wine cellar - step by step instructions

A wine cellar can be built on the basis of an existing basement or built entirely from scratch. The latter option, if there is free space on the site and a sufficient budget, is preferable, since you will not just get a separate room for storing barrels and bottles, but a full-fledged room where you can equip a cozy recreation area, spend time and receive guests.

When choosing a place for a cellar, give preference to the highest points of the personal plot, so you will simplify your life in the future, having lost the need to deal with groundwater. The dimensions of the cellar are selected based on the volume of stored wine and the characteristics of the use of the premises in the future - will it be just a warehouse or is it planned to arrange a relaxation zone? For the minimum ceiling height, it is rational to take 2 meters, which will allow you to walk freely inside the cellar.

The construction of a wine cellar consists of the following stages:

1. Preparatory work and development of the pit.
2. Foundation installation and screed filling.
3. Wall masonry and ceiling installation.
4. Thermal insulation and waterproofing of the room.
5. Finishing works, installation of ventilation and air conditioning equipment.

To develop a pit, you will need to attract an excavator or a tractor, since it is irrational to dig such dimensions manually. The depth of the pit should be 20 cm greater than the height of the walls of the cellar, which will be required for filling the sealing layer.

After the development of the pit, a reinforced concrete slab must be poured at its bottom, which will serve as the foundation and floor of the cellar. Work begins with filling the bottom with a layer of sand 10 cm thick, it is compacted and covered with geotextiles, on top of which a layer of rubble of the same thickness is filled. Next, a formwork from planed boards is installed, it should be removed from the walls of the pit by 20-30 cm. The formwork is fixed with spacers and stakes, then a reinforcing cage (cells 20 * 20 cm) is assembled in it by welding from 12 mm reinforcement bars. The frame should have two belts - an upper and a lower one, connected by vertical jumpers. The last stage is the concreting of the foundation with ready-mixed concrete of the M400 brand. Dismantling of the formwork can be performed a week after the slab has been poured.

Next, work begins on the laying of the walls of the cellar. The easiest way to make walls is from FBS blocks, but ordinary bricks can also be used. The masonry is carried out in a standard way, with bandaging in the floor of the block on a layer of cement 1 cm thick; there is no need to reinforce the walls from FBS.

The last stage in the construction of the "box" of the cellar is the installation of the floor slab. This will also require the involvement of special equipment - a truck crane. You don't have to do anything here with your own hands, the crane operator will do everything. Keep in mind that the maximum length of reinforced concrete floor slabs is 12 m, so the dimensions of the cellar must be designed in accordance with these dimensions.

After laying the floor slab, the free space between the outer plane of the walls and the ground must be covered with clay. Having tamped the clay well, you will form a barrier that will prevent the influence of groundwater on the walls of the cellar.

1.1 Insulation works, interior planning

Since wine cellars have strict requirements for the internal microclimate, you will need to make high-quality insulation of the room. Here you will need comprehensive heat and waterproofing of walls and roofs, which will ensure that there are no problems with dampness, mold and mildew.

It is best to use extruded polystyrene foam as a heater, and penetrating waterproofing to protect against moisture. It must be applied in two layers using a roller. A well-proven composition is Penetron, the material is supplied in powder, which must be diluted in water according to the instructions before use.

Further, a heater is fixed on the surface of the walls and ceiling. The easiest way to fix the expanded polystyrene panels is by gluing, but this option is only suitable if the decoration of the wine cellar does not involve the use of cladding materials. It is possible to glue the insulation with further plastering of the walls, but if you plan to finish the walls with wood, clapboard or panels, then you will need to build a frame from a bar and place the insulation inside the crate cells. With this approach, decorative sheathing is attached over the constructed frame.

The design of a wine cellar is usually made with an emphasis on the use of natural materials - wood and stone. However, keep in mind that coniferous woods cannot be used for interior decoration, as they have a characteristic odor, which can affect the quality of the stored product. The best choice is oak, a traditional variety used by winemakers for generations.

Most of your cellar will be occupied by racks and racks for bottles of wine, they largely determine the impression of the interior of the room. However, the shelving should not only be beautiful, but also practical. It is better to entrust their manufacture to a professional, or buy ready-made structures. The best option are shelves in the form of pyramids, they are spacious enough - bottles can be stacked on top of each other. Shelves with individual cells for each bottle look more impressive, but also take up more space.

You can decorate the interior with spot lighting, represented by semi-antique lamps. Also, furniture for the wine cellar will not be superfluous - a couple of armchairs or stools, if there is enough free space, you can install a tasting rack.

1.2 DIY wine cellar (video)

2 Requirements for the microclimate and the choice of split systems

Any winemaker knows that wine storage technology provides for strict requirements for temperature and air humidity, if not observed, the product can lose its original taste. That is why the wine cellar must not only be isolated from the environment, but also equipped with special air conditioning equipment that will maintain the required indoor climate.

The temperature inside the cellar should be kept within 13-15 degrees. A decrease in it is fraught with cooling of the wine and a slowdown in its maturation, and an increase can affect the taste of the product, since the drink loses its characteristics when heated.

The optimal level of humidity in a home wine cellar is 60 to 60%. If the humidity is less, then due to the drying of the corks, the wine will oxidize, more - mold will form in the room.

As air conditioning equipment, it is necessary to use special split systems for wine cellars, the main manufacturer of which on the world market is Airwell. Such split systems are high-precision equipment, they are able to maintain a given temperature with fluctuations of less than 0.5 degrees and humidity with 2.5%.

When choosing a split-system, it is necessary to be guided by the size of the room, the cooling of which will be performed. Airwell in the technical specifications of its equipment indicate the volume of a particular air conditioner. Most often, models for individual use are designed for rooms with a volume of 25, 48, 82 and 122 m 3.

The best option in terms of price / functionality ratio is the Airwell FWDe split system series. This is a cooling equipment with a capacity of 3.5-7 kW (depending on the model), which can lower the temperature in cellars with a volume of up to 82 m 2 to 12 degrees.

The Airwell FWDe line includes 3 models - FWDe-12, FWDe-18 and FWDE-24, differing in performance, power consumption and air consumption. All of them correspond to energy efficiency class A and can operate at ambient temperatures from -10 to +46 degrees. The cost of Airwell FWDe split systems varies between 40-100 thousand rubles.

General purpose split systems from Daikin can be considered as a more affordable alternative to specialized equipment. Such an air conditioner for a wine cellar will cost you an order of magnitude cheaper, but there will be no significant differences in the functionality of the equipment. Tested models are Daikin FTYN25, Daikin FTXB60 and Daikin FTXN25.

Do-it-yourself wine cellar is not an easy task. Violation of one of the many necessary conditions can lead to spoilage of wine, which often represents not only great gastronomic, but also material value. What exactly in a wine cellar can damage and harm a wine collection?

1. The wine cellar must have the right light - solar and neon, the so-called fluorescent lamps, are considered especially dangerous for wine.
2. Sharp temperature fluctuations in the wine cellar - the wine can be damaged by both too low and too high temperature, as well as its sharp fluctuations.
3. There should be no vibrations in the wine cellar, this prevents the wine from developing properly.
4. Low level of air humidity - dry cork can ruin the wine, while too high humidity can affect the cork, namely its surface. If the humidity is too high, mold may develop between the capsule and the surface of the cork, which will adversely affect the wine. High humidity can also ruin the wine label.
5. Strong foreign odors - Only wine should be stored in the wine cellar. The corks do not provide 100% tightness of the wine, and this is not necessary, otherwise it could not evolve, respectively, the wine is able to absorb an extraneous smell, which will definitely lead to its distortion.

Based on this, the conditions that must be observed when storing wine in a wine cellar are determined:

1. The horizontal position of the bottle, so that the cork can be completely washed by the wine and not dry out.
2. Darkness. In the wine cellar, the light should be turned on only when you are there, the rest of the time it is absolute darkness.
3. The wine cellar is always a clean room with good ventilation.
4. Peace and quiet, no unnecessary movement and vibration.
5. Strict temperature regime: 11-12 degrees Celsius (10-14 degrees is acceptable)
6. Air humidification mode (constant humidity about 75-80%, but not lower than 70%)
7. Complete absence of foreign odors

A specially equipped wine cellar, of course, meets all these conditions in the best way. The walls of the wine cellar must be made of porous materials such as limestone, sandstone, brick. If a concrete wine cellar is used to store wine, holes must be drilled in its walls.

There are two common methods used to provide clean air. The first, which is suitable for small rooms, is to arrange natural ventilation of the wine cellar by installing a ventilation grill at the bottom of the door, and place a hood on the opposite wall, under the ceiling. If the door is in the north, and the hood is installed on the south or east wall, it will be possible to avoid drafts dangerous for wine. The second method, suitable for rooms of all sizes, is the installation of special conditioners for the wine cellar.

To maintain the required humidity in the wine cellar, the floor is covered with a 4-5 cm layer of gravel or sand, which is regularly moistened by sprinkling with water, especially in hot, dry weather. Among the storage equipment, a thermometer and a barometer (for determining humidity) are absolutely essential.

To illuminate the wine cellar, it makes sense to use only the weakest electric bulbs, which are turned on only when visiting the cellar.

Bearing in mind that vibration is strictly contraindicated in wine, one must be aware that purchasing or renting a wine cellar next to a nightclub, a rebuilding house or a shallow metro line is not a very smart investment.

Shelves for storing bottles in a wine cellar, it is undesirable to make of wood or plastic. Plastic is not a very reliable material, and wood is prone to decay. One shelf should not hold more than six rows of bottles.

Long-term wine should be placed in such a way as to disturb it as little as possible, in the lower rows or in the depths of the wine cellar. Wine destined for early opening, on the contrary, is closer to the upper shelves.
For the safety of labels, it is better to place bottles with labels down.

Experienced and novice collectors alike place wines in the cellar according to their types, regions and years of production. Experienced owners of large collections, as a rule, compile a catalog with which it will be possible to easily find the location of any bottle in the cellar, as well as to get all the information about it.

If the arrangement of the wine cellar is not yet included in the plans of the collector or restaurateur, you can purchase special refrigerators. This expensive product pays for itself, since a significant part of the necessary storage conditions in it is performed automatically, and their placement does not require a separate room.

Notes:

1. It is undesirable to keep wine in cardboard boxes or wooden boxes, paper and wood will rot and wine can easily absorb this unacceptable smell.
2. Wine with a not very long estimated shelf life (up to one and a half years) can be stored at a temperature of 16-18 degrees Celsius (according to some sources, up to 20). This speeds up the maturation of the wine, but its improvement is not as good as at 11-12 degrees. As the temperature drops further, however, the wine practically stops evolving.

True connoisseurs of wine know that it is unacceptable to store a sunny drink in ordinary home conditions (in a kitchen cabinet, refrigerator, on open shelves). On the contrary, he needs a separate room with special equipment.

Apartment owners can afford to equip only a small wine cellar, but in a private household for this purpose, you can safely use the entire basement (cellar). Of course, collectors will have to work hard to create the “right” wine cellar design, but the result will be enjoyable for many years.

Special conditions for registration of the storage

Wine is a very whimsical drink. Improper storage conditions can spoil its unique taste or even lead to spoilage. In view of this, a number of aspects need to be considered at the planning stage of the storage facility.

Temperature. Too high, too low temperature, as well as its sharp drops, have a detrimental effect on the quality characteristics of the drink. Oscillations lead to a loss of elasticity of the cork, as a result of which oxygen enters the bottle and irreversible changes (fermentation, souring) occur. In order to avoid this, the same regime should be constantly maintained in the cellar.

The optimum temperature for wine is + 10-12 degrees C. It is not recommended to equip the storage near the boiler room, and place heating devices in the room itself.

Humidity. When designing the interior of a wine cellar, it is important to consider moisture indicators. They should not exceed 60% -75%, otherwise mold can grow in the room. Reduced humidity is also detrimental to a hoppy drink, since dry air causes the cork to dry out and the contents of the bottle oxidize.

Traditional air conditioners are not suitable to maintain the optimum humidity level; for the cellar, you need to purchase special equipment - split systems or centralized air conditioning systems (see photo below).

Ventilation. The ventilation system is very important for a wine cellar. It prevents stagnation of odors in the room and their penetration into containers, which protects the contents from extraneous tastes. When installing the supply and exhaust structure, it is necessary to ensure uniform air distribution throughout the room.

Lighting. Wine does not like direct sunlight and bright light. Therefore, an artificial lighting system with brightness controls should be organized in the basement. Instead of incandescent lamps, it is better to use halogen, LED or fluorescent models; they do not heat up the air like traditional lamps.

Wine cellar interior decoration

Finishing plays an important role in arranging home wine storage. What is considered the norm in the design of residential premises (for example, wallpapering or laying drywall) in the cellar turns out to be completely impractical.

To maintain stable temperature and humidity indicators, it is recommended to finish surfaces with materials such as stone (preferably limestone) or brick. They have low heat-conducting properties and are able to dampen vibrations, which also have a detrimental effect on the taste of the drink.

Often, natural wood (oak, ash, maple) is used to decorate walls and ceilings. But for wine storage, tree varieties containing resins are not suitable, since the latter can penetrate into the container and distort the aroma of the drink. The photo of the wine cellar design shows how harmoniously the wood paneling looks.

The floor can be covered with a mound of fine gravel - as was done in the old days - or you can give preference to a more modern finish: a concrete base lined with floor tiles, marble or vinyl.

Wine storage furniture and more

Wine bottles should be stored in a horizontal position so that the cork does not dry out. Also, it is important to arrange the collection so that it is easy to find the desired instance, without disturbing other containers. Racks are the ideal solution for a wine collection. They are often made from wood, metal or limestone. Limestone constructions perfectly keep temperature and exclude the appearance of mold.

Modular racks are very convenient to use. One module can accommodate several dozen bottles; in addition, it can be easily grouped with other modules as the collection expands (see photo below).

In addition to shelving, the interior of the wine cellar can be equipped with special metal holders. They are attached vertically to the wall and clamp the neck of the container.

Wooden shelves with round slots are no less convenient to use.

A wine cabinet is a good solution for a small cellar. A distinction is made between single-temperature and multi-temperature cabinet models. The former maintain the same temperature regime, which contributes to the maturation of the wine; the latter consist of several temperature sections, which allows storing different types of wines.

Finally, if space permits, a tasting area can be arranged in the cellar. To receive guests and enjoy a sunny drink, it is enough to install a table and several chairs (or armchairs).

A short excursion to a self-built wine cellar is already a serious reason for the white envy of your guests. But in order to surprise your friends and neighbors, you will first have to make some efforts. Looking at the aesthetics and unique design of already implemented projects, you might think that the desire to build a wine cellar on your own directly borders on a pipe dream. But away from doubts! Take this challenge! Study the basic requirements for this room, decide on the project and get to work.

DIY wine cellar: basic requirements

When you start building a wine cellar, you should always remember that you are creating a non-trivial and somewhat exotic room. Therefore, its design must be carefully thought out. Everything should be taken into account: from the size and ending with the angles under which the bottles with wine will be stored. Otherwise, you may end up with a regular basement for storing eggplants.

It sounds somewhat exaggerated, but it is. After all, the conditions inside the wine cellar must meet certain parameters:

First and foremost, the temperature regime must be strictly observed in the inner space of the wine cellar. The ideal temperature in the wine cellar is + 11C °, but depending on the types of stored wines, other options are possible - from + 10C ° to + 14C °.

Air humidity is also important. In order for the wine corks not to dry out, and the walls are not covered with mold, this figure should be maintained around 70% (± 10%).

The wine cellar must be completely protected from sunlight. Be aware that only artificial lighting will keep the exquisite product intact. Well-planned illumination can always bring a special touch of aesthetics to the existing environment.

The room must be reliably protected from vibrations. This requirement is not essential, but the proximity of a wine cellar to a railway line may adversely affect the quality of the drinks stored in it.

Proper ventilation must function in all rooms of the cellar. It is not necessary to make it forced, because a natural exhaust is quite suitable to ensure good air circulation.

This is what one of the participants of our forum says about the successfully implemented project of the wine cellar (about ventilation and the size of the room).

slawickk member of FORUMHOUSE

Ventilation - natural, supply and exhaust - in every room. The height inside to the vault is 2.5 m in the large room and 2.25 m in the rest. The photo shows that the floor is at different levels.

Converting an ordinary cellar into a wine cellar

If there is already a spacious basement under your house, for which you have not yet been able to find a worthy use, then arranging a wine cellar in its inner space is the shortest way to creating a reliable storage for an intoxicating and aromatic drink.

Despite the fact that the room is already ready and “tested for strength”, you will need to bring it in accordance with the requirements listed in the previous section. So, a user of our forum Yawa3891recommends first of all to make sure that the basement is completely protected from the ingress of groundwater inside. But even if this is the case, then you still need to hedge yourself and waterproof the walls, ceiling and floor. After that, you can start creating effective ventilation. If the existing system is not enough (this is determined by the level of humidity), and molds were previously seen on the wall surfaces, it is a good idea to think about installing equipment for forced ventilation.

It makes little sense to objectively talk about the layouts of air ducts and the power of the recommended equipment within the framework of this article. After all, it all depends on the characteristics of the room and on its area. Equipment must be selected individually for each project. Ventilation manufacturers are best suited to address these issues. The same can be said for climate control systems. Their characteristics can be determined only by consulting with the specialists who will be engaged in the installation of climate control equipment.

Yawa3891 participant of FORUMHOUSE, Moscow.

Based on the percentage of moisture, wood is selected for all products - wine cabinets, racks, etc. An important point is in the air conditioning system. It is installed in a complex, you need to select it immediately for the entire project. This will allow you to determine the size of the cabinets and ensure that the optimum temperature is maintained throughout the cellar.

In terms of interior decoration, there is a huge space for imagination. But we will return to this question later.

Building a wine cellar from scratch

If the presence of a spacious basement or at least a small cellar was not planned during the construction phase of the house, then this flaw can be corrected by creating a wine cellar on the territory of a suburban area. This process is a little more laborious than the one described in the previous chapter. But you will have the opportunity to implement a project of the desired scale and apply the most preferred design strategy to it.

Before "grabbing a shovel", try to think carefully about the project of the future premises. Give him special attention and write your thoughts down on paper. Only in this case the future building will fully meet all your wishes.

A special wine cellar is built by analogy with a cellar for storing ordinary products. The whole process can be divided into several main stages:

Creation of a pit with specified dimensions. The dimensions of the pit should be about half a meter larger than the outer dimensions of the walls. This will subsequently make it possible to make high-quality waterproofing of the cellar.

Pouring the foundation, reinforced concrete floor and building walls (walls can be brick, concrete, etc. - it all depends on your preference).

Waterproofing floors and walls.

Installation of the upper floor.

Creation of the aboveground part of the cellar.

Installation of doors, installation of climate control equipment, arrangement of ventilation and implementation of the finishing part of the project.

If there is any elevation on your site, then the cellar should be built exactly in this place. This will protect yourself from the troubles associated with the rise of groundwater. Before construction, geological surveys should be carried out for the depth of the underground aquifer.

The construction of a wine cellar is similar for food storage. Only in our case it is necessary to comply with the requirements listed in the first chapter of this article.

Wine cellar interior

With a certain amount of imagination in your own wine cellar, you can create a very colorful entourage. Anything can be used - from daring experiments with lighting and up to exclusive racks for storing bottles of wine.

Any home wine cellar is unique in itself. Typical projects, especially those implemented at home, are extremely rare. But there are several general recommendations on this topic.

So, the use of natural materials in the construction of a wine cellar is welcomed by many. Stone structures are very widespread - walls, shelves and partitions. The stone well "remembers" the temperature of the room, so the wine is stored in it better, and it becomes easier to keep a constant temperature in the cellar. No other material is capable of damping mechanical vibrations as effectively as an array of stone does. This is an interior design with stone shelves that one of the participants of our forum came up with.

slawickk member of FORUMHOUSE

The material for the walls is sandstone, the red niches in the depths are "royal brick". The design is based on a combination of vaults of different geometries and purposes. Particular attention was paid to the processing of stones - each stone is cut with a grinder on five sides with high cutting accuracy.

But what happened after the completion of construction:

For the furniture of the wine cellar, it is recommended to use only solid wood - oak, ash and other solid woods. All kinds of chipboard and MDF should be avoided. After all, these materials are not suitable for use in wet rooms. In addition, they are so saturated with synthetic substances that, with all the desire, it cannot have a beneficial effect on the microclimate of the room.

When making shelves, remember that wine should be stored horizontally. It is allowed to put bottles at a slight angle, but in no case should they be placed vertically.

The shape of shelves for shelving can be different - from diamond to straight horizontal. Diamond-shaped shelves, for example, are designed for long-term storage of a drink. It is very convenient to store wine on them, but it is problematic to get the bottom bottles from them. Indeed, in this case, they will certainly "disturb" all the wine stored in this cell.

In order for the wine cellar to have a complete look, you can install a real oak barrel in its interior space or equip a tasting area. This area will contain tables, benches and other necessary attributes. It will be doubly pleasant here to uncork a bottle of wine, knowing that the whole environment around is created by our own hands.

If you want to participate in the discussion of home wine storage facilities, which are created by regular users of our site, be sure to visit the forum section "". Do you want to learn all the intricacies of building a cellar in a high water table? Then take a look at the article from on this issue. And, finally, "" is a section of the forum for those who are just looking for ways to implement their ideas.

A house in which there are pleasant and necessary little things is comfortable for life, and building, for example, one of such pleasant little things - a wine cellar with your own hands, is quite simple. The main thing is to arm yourself with expert advice and act according to certain rules.

We are planning a wine cellar

Build do-it-yourself wine cellar in a private house can be done in different ways. First you need to find out where you will place it:

• inside the basement or semi-basement of a cottage or house;
• in a separate room outside the house.

Each method has its own pros and cons:

• the wine cellar built into the basement is very convenient to use, since in the cold season there is no need to go outside the house, it is enough just to go down to the basement;
• a wine cellar in the basement of the house can be equipped with a bar, put a table in the same place and equip a whole room where to arrange chairs, dishes, the opportunity to taste wines;
• a separate wine cellar outside the house can be arranged when the structure of the house does not allow using the basement for a separate room, including if the foundation is piled and the number of piles is too large for arranging the room;
• the taken out wine cellar has its own temperature regime, and its appearance can become a decoration of the landscape of your personal plot.

Consider first construction of a wine cellar inside the house. This is the most common option, since it can be implemented both in an already built house and during the construction phase. It is better if you initially lay the construction of a wine cellar in the house project, then the cellar will look unique, it can be built according to all the rules and planned in advance. This is certainly more useful for those who have already acquired a collection of wines and now require a serious storage room.

In order to professionally carry out the construction of a wine cellar, you can contact the specialists of the "InnovaStroy" company, who can provide services as for individual construction services as well as to design and implement in practice the construction of a wine cellar and the entire complex of residential and utility premises. The professional design of such structures is very important, since basements require increased waterproofing and the attention of builders to the details of the construction. It is important to note that the interior design of a wine cellar is also very important and will perfectly complement and highlight the value of your collection. Such developments can be ordered from the company's specialists, and you can find out the preliminary calculation of the service by communicating your design vision.

Wine loves coolness and cannot stand the sun

There are general rules for storing different types of wines. One of the most important is compliance with the temperature regime:

1. The temperature inside the wine cellar should not rise more than + 12 ° C. Winemakers say that the ideal storage temperature for most wines is + 11 ° C. However, connoisseurs of the wine drink argue that temperature fluctuations from + 9 ° C to + 14 ° C will not greatly damage the wine. The main thing is that they are not frequent, because it is detrimental to the wine.
2. High humidity indoors is one of the prerequisites. Limit values \u200b\u200b- 70% humidity. This moisture is needed so that the wine corks do not dry out. Then the wine can lose its taste. This is why the wine is stored at an angle or horizontally, so that the cork is enveloped in the wine drink.
3. Inside the room there should be no ultraviolet rays that destroy wine, that is, windows are prohibited and only artificial lighting without sunlight is assumed.
4. Wine does not like the rumble of a passing road or highway. If you own a wine collection and are building a house near the road, then there is a fear that over time the collection will become tasteless - the wine loses its quality due to constant vibration.

We build a wine cellar in the house

If you decide to equip part of the basement in the house under wine cellar by their hands, it should be noted that the storage of other products, especially those with a pungent or specific odor, is contraindicated. Neighborhood with technical substances, including automobile oils, paint, polymers, is also not desirable. Wine "breathes", that is, through the cork, it can partially absorb the air around it. And all foreign smells will spoil the wine taste forever.

If you are thinking about building a wine cellar even at the stage of building a house, then the technology of an ordinary strip concrete or brick foundation is useful for this:

• We dig a foundation pit of the required width and height. The height can be no more than 3 meters, although this is not a rule. Sand is poured into the bottom with a layer of about 30 cm, and drainage is arranged at the place of construction of the future foundation walls.
• It is recommended to enclose the perimeter of the pit with wooden boards, which are sheathed with asbestos. After the construction of such insulation, the floor is concreted, and then the formwork is installed.

• The formwork is poured with concrete. You can then make a separate brick wall in half a brick, which will perform the function of decorating the basement. If there is an opportunity and time to build a brick foundation for a wine cellar, this is an ideal option for spectacular design solutions. Such a basement and cellar will look very beautiful.
• We process the floor and wall after construction with antifungal materials and materials that prevent the growth of mold.
• Installing ventilation in a wine cellar is a very important part of building it. The ventilation device should be made in such a way that a cool climate remains inside the basement. To do this, it is necessary not only to draw the conclusions of the ventilation pipes, but it is also advisable to install special devices that will take the humidity and temperature readings, and connect heating or forced ventilation. Such an ideal "climate control" can be carried out both with the help of manual switching on and off by a signal from sensors, and with the help of automated special devices.
• Wine cellar in a private house with your own hands they are made out not according to any rules, but first of all, taking into account the tastes of the owner. Here it is better to rely on your personal experience, although it would not hurt to consult with the designers. They mainly strive to preserve the elements of brickwork, which are decorated with metal products, wine racks, tasting tables, and bar counters are installed. It all depends on the wishes and capabilities of the developer
• A wine cellar door is best made of wood and preferably oak. An oak door will not succumb to dampness and fights well against fungi. In addition, it hermetically and reliably separates the wine cellar from the main living quarters.
• One of the last but basic rules for arranging a cellar inside a house is to use natural materials as much as possible in the construction of a wine cellar. This will not only add beauty to your building, but also prevent the penetration of foreign odors into the wine. Thus, the wine collection will always be amazingly tasty.

Entrance to the wine cellar can be arranged in different ways. The most economical design, when a wine cellar is born with your own hands without significant costs, will be the arrangement of a hatch and a vertical (inclined) metal staircase mounted in the wall or near the wall. However, if possible, then you can arrange a special flight of stairs to the basement, separating, as we have already said, the main part of the house from the cellar with an oak door. It is more expensive but very convenient.

Construction of a separate wine cellar

If you think that it is better to move your wine collection away from the main premises of the house, then you can build an ordinary cellar separately from the house using the same technology that we described above. However, there are some differences: When choosing a free-standing wine cellar, the same golden rule applies as for all such buildings - choose the highest point possible. This will prevent the basement from being flooded and destroyed by groundwater, and will reduce the pressure on the walls of the cellar by landslide soils.

In this case, increased waterproofing of the basement is required, since the house slightly protects the basement from external water flows, but here you will have to make effective slopes from the ground or build even a small roof structure. A distinctive feature of such wine cellars is the need for excellent decoration of the entrance to them. If you have a separate wine cellar, then it is worth making an original brick entrance according to an individual project. Old-style tiled paths to the wine cellar look very impressive. Wine cellars are generally very well decorated in antique style, using either natural stone or pseudo stone decoration materials.

Wine cellar interior

If all the necessary rules are met, including increased waterproofing and high-quality ventilation to maintain the microclimate in the cellar, it's time to start creating an individual interior in the wine cellar. In this case, you need to remember the very important points that need to be considered when creating an interior.

First of all, we will have to deal with high humidity, which we need to keep our wines safe. In order to select materials for wall decoration in such conditions, you need to remember about high moisture resistance. What can be used for wall work? Let's remember natural building materials:

• decorative stone will defeat moisture, will keep walls from high humidity and low room temperature for many years;
• we decorate raw brickwork, using waterproofing materials;
• cedar, oak, other moisture-resistant wood can be used as cladding.

Wine shelves

Wine shelves play an important role in the decoration of the wine cellar. You can make them yourself, since they do not require the construction of a complex structure. But in order for them to look beautiful and perform their main function, you should know some features:

• the angle of inclination of shelves or racks should be, starting from several degrees, to an almost vertical position of the bottle with the neck down, horizontal placement of bottles is allowed;
• wooden shelves or shelves should be covered with varnish or other solution on top to prevent the wood from reacting to fungus or mold, dampness;
• it is best to use when connecting shelves with screw connections with hidden incisions, so that metal products do not interfere with the beauty of the wood composition;

• racks can be made of metal or brick niches. In metal racks, bottles are folded in the same way as in wooden ones - at an angle or strictly horizontally. In brick niches, bottles are usually stacked in pyramids.

Wine cellars in miniature

The wine cellar can be replaced before the construction of a full-fledged wine cellar, with other structures that can be arranged in the house, for example, if you already have a small collection, but you do not yet know where and how to build a wine cellar, did not consult with experts and choose which project cottage and its reconstruction, should be ordered, then you can try to get by with the device of a wine room or wine cabinet for now

It should be noted that wines are very whimsical to temperature conditions and require increased attention to themselves. If you decide to separate a corner of the house for a wine room, then you will have to equip it:

• air conditioning with humidity control system;
• maintaining a stable temperature all year round;
• power cable and lighting organization;
• tinted glass or glass covered with a special film to prevent direct sunlight

that is, certain engineering and construction works ... The maintenance of such a room will take significantly more money than a wine cellar, but it is equipped faster and does not require excavation.

It's even easier to arrange a wine cabinet. In fact, it is a prefabricated structure that is sold in specialized stores and offers a multi-level wine cooling system. The wardrobe is large in size and can fit in a niche sector of a large room at home. You can arrange such a niche in utility rooms, but not in those where there are man-made odors, paint or other chemicals are stored. It will also require isolation from direct sunlight. The temperature regime will also require an electrical connection. All this looks like a separate refrigerator, only large and exclusively for wine. However, it should be remembered that such rooms or cabinets are suitable mainly for short-term storage of wine or other wine products.

Pros of different wine cellar options

It is quite possible to equip a wine cellar on your own. To do this, you should design it in advance, take into account the possibility of its construction even when laying the house. Or to reconstruct the existing basement according to certain rules. The main thing that is required to equip a wine cellar is temperature, lack of sunlight, a quiet place, without vibrations. The basement is such a place in the house. However, if you have a large and noisy house, and even more so if it is built right next to the road, then it is better to move the wine cellar to the far corner of the site. There, the wine will be better preserved, and your collection will not be threatened by vibrations, which means that the taste of the wine will not change. The advantage of a detached wine cellar will remain privacy, the opportunity to taste wine in a relaxed atmosphere, as well as the construction of a gazebo nearby for relaxation.

It is important to remember that a wine cellar requires good decor. Then the wine collection turns not just into a collection of bottles with a drink, but a real treasure of your home. Since wines do not like warmth, it will not work for a long time in a wine cellar, since the temperature there is not comfortable for humans. For the same reason, it is not rational to arrange a separate room there according to all the rules, but it is worth placing a tasting table with chairs or decorated stools. This will be respect for your guest, and it is also very convenient for the owner of the collection, who sometimes needs to select wines for the table. If the house is equipped with its own wine cellar, then the price of such a building increases, since such structures are a sign of increased comfort, elite of the house.

Wine cellar construction may take a long time, mainly due to the requirement of careful and expensive decor, the use of natural materials in the interior. In turn, this also guarantees the long-term operation of such structures and their attractiveness. A wine cellar is an opportunity to present guests with exquisite drinks, emphasize the tastes of the owner, and show a polite attitude towards other people. For the sake of this, it is worthwhile to start building a wine cellar. And how to build a wine cellar with your own hands, watch a video that will tell you about the tricks and nuances of such structures. At the end of the publication - a do-it-yourself wine cellar in the photo, where a unique cute entrance is arranged. Try and you do the same or choose your own, no less beautiful option.