Keeping Your Wine Cellar Cold in Dry Climates: All You Need to Know

You must not take any chances when it comes to maturing your favorite wine collection. The mix of acids, tannins, and alcohol in the wine needs careful attention.

Your wine is an investment, which is why it’s critical to utilize the correct storage techniques and methods to ensure that the climate remains in the proper conditions for the wine to age.

Our wine cellar cooling guide covers all of the do’s and don’ts when it comes to keeping a wine cellar cold in dry climates.

Building a cellar in a dry environment

The first step in achieving climate control is to create an airtight atmosphere for your wine cellar. 

A vapor barrier, which is a plastic enclosure erected on the outer walls, above the ceiling, and under floors that have accessible space, is extremely successful at preserving humidity in a wine room or cellar. 

It is necessary to seal the concrete floor. Double-paned glass, exterior-grade doors, and well-sealed thresholds all contribute to the creation of a closed wine cellar atmosphere and help keep the wine cellar cold in dry climates.

Ideal Humidity levels

The wine matures and keeps best in relative humidity levels ranging from 50 to 70 percent, with 60 percent being the ideal range. Mold development can occur if the humidity level is above 70%, causing the adhesive to break down. 

Corks that have been broken as a result of low levels of alcohol might result in evaporation and degradation of the wine. Wine cellars, rooms, and walls located in dry climates require a little additional thought and preparation before the design and construction of the area can be completed successfully.

Having the Right Wine Cellar Humidity Is Critical in Dry Climates.

Adding moisture back into the air is critical in dry conditions, and this is something that traditional HVAC units are unable to handle well. 

It is possible that merely opening the door of the wine display will lower the humidity level in a dry environment because wine cellar climates are so sensitive. It is important to choose the correct cooling unit, which should include humidity in some way.

Keeping your wines at the right temperature is an important part of ensuring their quality and enhancing their enjoyment once served. Here are some tips to help you keep a stable temperature in your wine cellar.

Invest in wine cellar chilling equipment:

The wine cellar chilling equipment will either feature built-in humidity controls or the capacity to manage a separate humidifier in dry conditions. 

Acquire a non-heated humidifier:

Incorporated wine room humidifiers supply moisture to the recirculating air conditioning unit rather than straight into the wine cellar, ensuring that moisture is distributed uniformly throughout the recirculating air. 

Wine cellar humidifiers are designed to be installed directly on self-contained ducted cooling systems, and they can maintain relative humidity levels of up to 60 percent.

Non-heated humidifiers are a fantastic alternative for achieving relative humidity levels of more than 60 percent in any size home or commercial wine cellar while also adding moisture. 

Install a wine cellar humidistat: 

Humidistats help in maintaining the amount of moisture in the air. Located within the wine storage chamber, humidistats are responsible for supplying moist air straight into the space. High-quality, wall-mounted humidistats regulate all the freestanding units. The capacity of the wine cellar humidifier should be sufficient for the environment into which it is introducing moisture to be effective.

When you come to know how humidity affects wine storage and aging in dry climates, you will be willing to acquire climate control and cooling equipment that’s built to keep your wine cellar at the best temperatures.

Significance of Temperature Control of Wine Cellars?

Wine storage isn’t only about keeping things cold. 

A natural cork seal is important when the wine is bottled and sealed with moisture after fermentation. The shrinkage of cork in dry and hot settings can cause it to lose its seal, allowing oxygen to enter and resulting in off-flavors and smells, and eventually, spoilt wine. 

It is therefore critical to maintain proper humidity levels in your wine cellar to avoid this catastrophic disaster from affecting your whole collection.

A Word at The End

A wine cellar should be properly aired, chilled, and climate-controlled at all times. This is true whether the cellar is deep down, in a basement, or tucked away in a spare room.

Your wine cellar’s temperature, environment, and humidity affect how the wine matures and how it tastes.

When choosing a storage and cooling unit for your wine, consider every aspect of your cellar’s design and layout. So, that the collection of your fine wine remains intact in every climate.

You can also find high-strength concrete wine cellars here at Versatile Tanks, which can withstand any weather situation. With a proper wine cellar storage system, you can enjoy your valuable wines for years to come.