Vigilant has built thousands of wine cellars over the years in many different areas and climates. With a comprehensive product line, customers can utilize both kit and custom elements to design their wine cellar to meet their exact specifications. Size, materials, finish and capacity can all be tailored to meet customer needs. Kit wine racks also can be integrated with our modular cabinets, adding even more options.

Here are some great examples of both kit and custom wine cellars.

[caption id="attachment_927" align="alignleft" width="480" caption="This gorgeous wine cellar in New York has Classic wine racks integrated with custom elements including stonework and granite counter tops."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[caption id="attachment_923" align="alignnone" width="480" caption="This Illinois wine cellar utilizes kit wine racks, modular wine cabinets and some custom elements for an arrangement that is both functional and attractive."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_938" align="alignnone" width="480" caption="This wine cellar has a mix of custom and kit wine racks and a functional tasting area with seating."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_645" align="alignleft" width="347" caption="The size of your wine collection will help you determine the size of your wine cellar."][/caption]

Before you begin finalizing your wine cellar plans, it’s important to calculate the probable size of your wine collection. Figure out how large or small you would like your collection to be and the number of bottles you are currently storing. This will help you estimate the cost, size and materials needed to construct your wine cellar. A large-scale wine storage area isn’t necessary if you are planning on storing a few bottles in your home.

For smaller collections, there are a few options. Consider smaller storage options or wine racks to store your wine in an existing space in your home. Wine should be stored away from heat sources and vibration if possible. Wine cubes also work well for smaller wine collections and can easily be incorporated into the décor of any room. See our tips on storing wine for the best ways to store wine in your home.

Consider a larger wine cellar if you already have a decent amount of wine, plan to grow your collection or buy wine in bulk. Buying cases of wine is a good way to save money versus buying bottles individually and can give you access to vintages that may not be available later. Wines that age well in a wine cellar are also a wise purchase, as it can be enjoyed at a later time. For recommended aging times for common varietals, see our post on wines that age best in a wine cellar.

Use our wine cellar construction chart to help get an idea of how many bottles you can store in a certain amount of space. For example, a five foot by five foot room (with 25 square feet) will have 19 feet of usable wall space and store approximately 500 bottles. A five by ten foot room will hold about double the amount of wine bottles.

Another thing to consider is the size of the bottles you’ll be storing. Will you have all standard sized bottles or some magnum (1.5 liter) bottles? View our wine bottle sizing and storage chart to see what size bottles fit in each of our wine racks.

Vigilant’s new wine storage blog is now up and running at http://blog.vigilantinc.com. Check it out!

While not essential, adding a few pieces of furniture when you draw up your wine cellar design can add a cozy touch to the room and give you a convenient place to sit and sip your wine. A table and a few chairs is usually sufficient. Vigilant offers a complete line of wine cellar tables and stools and can create any custom furniture piece you might desire.

Some examples of wine cellar furniture include:

Wine Cellar Tables - These free-standing wooden tables store wine beneath a wood, glass or stone top. Wine tables may be bar table height or the height of a standard kitchen counter. Some may also have drawers to store wine openers, corks and other accessories.

Wine Cellar Stools - Wine cellar stools don’t take up a lot of room or interfere with the sight lines around the cellar as a high-back chair would do. Choose the wood and finish to match your cabinets and any extras your stools must have.

Wine cellar furniture comes in a variety of styles, ranging from Italian designs to rustic, barrel-shaped pieces. Look for what fits with your wine cellar design, accent colors, and overall goals for your wine cellar.

My vote is for mahogany and not just because Vigilant’s preferred wood is mahogany, but for the reasons behind the company’s choice.

Vigilant used to use redwood and mahogany, but found that redwood was not as solid a choice as mahogany for several reasons. Mahogany has been used throughout history when building products or projects that would be used in or around moist environments and water. Products such as boats and furniture have been the choice for these craftsmen for hundreds of years and so it is a logical choice for wine cellar racks as well.

Mahogany is one of the most user-friendly woods available and has extreme workability and reliability when making furniture or cabinetry. Mahogany also brings out the beauty in a wine rack or wine cabinet, a wine cellar door or wine furniture.

Wine cellars benefit from having wine cellar doors constructed of mahogany because the durability and protection offered by wine doors made of mahogany is unsurpassed and that is why most wine doors are constructed with the wood.

Other important characteristics to remember about mahogany over other woods is that mahogany holds fasteners better than any other wood. Mahogany ages well and the natural elements in the wood show through beautifully over time increasing the value, not diminishing it.

Redwood is a nice wood for many types of products, but it will not stand the test of time under the stresses of the environment like mahogany and it is more susceptible to rot over time. In addition, redwood is porous and will not take stain evenly cedar is too aromatic and will impart this into the wine, ruining the flavor of the bottle. Pine is not a rot resistant wood and should never be considered for a proper wine storage environment. Poplar, oakand cherry are not mold resitant and therefore not appropriate for wine racks in a moist climate controlled environment.

When choosing your next wine rack, seriously consider all the options before making a final decision. Making the wrong decision in your choice of wood could result in further money spent down the road or wine that has been compromised by the wine racks holding it.