Wine Cellar Temperature, Ventilation & Humidity Control

When it comes to storing and aging your wine, you don't take any chances.

The combination of acids, tannins, and alcohol present in the wine needs special care.

Your wine is an investment, which is why it's so essential to use the proper storage techniques and methods to keep the climate in the right conditions.

In this guide, we go over all of the do's and don'ts of wine cellar cooling.

Does your Wine Cellar Need to be Cooled?

In 99% of climates, a wine cellar will need to be cooled. That is because temperature and humidity fluctuation can damage the wine.

There are two ways of cooling down a cellar: Active or Passive cooling.

1. Passively Cooling - Cooling a Wine Cellar Naturally

Passively cooled wine cellars are in rooms that are naturally cool and humid. Originally wine was stored underground in caves, where it's naturally humid and the temperature remains consistent.

The deeper a wine cellar is, the less yearly variation in temperature there is, but a depth of around 15ft should offer you a reasonably small change in temperature over a year.

You can further reduce variation in temperature by properly insulating the exterior walls of your wine cellar, and not insulating the floor.

However, for most people this will be impractical, so the easiest solution is to actively cool their wine cellar.

2. Active Cooling - How to Refrigerate a Wine Cellar

Active cooling to cool down your wine cellar means using a cooling unit with ventilation, a vapor barrier, and proper insulation.

Actively cooled wine systems require more maintenance and upkeep than a passively cooled system, but they allow for much easier control of the temperature, humidity, and refrigeration levels.

Read next: Wine Storage at Home for Beginners

Can you use an Air Conditioner to Cool a Wine Cellar?

As tempting as it might be to save a few bucks, using an air conditioner to cool your cellar will ruin your wine 100% of the time. A conventional AC cools down a room too quickly, which is very damaging to the wine and strips the humidity right out of the air.

When you invest in a proper ventilation cooling system for your wine cellar, you benefit from a controlled cooling rate, which should be much slower than the speed at which a traditional air conditioner cools a room. A high-quality cooling system brings your wine cellar to the perfect temperature without removing the humidity from the air. A vapor barrier is essential as well, as it will keep mold, mildew, and fungi from infiltrating your cellar.

Read next: How to Build a Wine Cellar (the right way)

How to Choose a Wine Cellar Cooling System

When choosing a wine cellar cooling unit, you need to consider your climate and cellar design, as there are different options available depending on those factors.

The three main types are:

1. Fully Ducted Systems
   
2. Split Systems
3. Through-The-Wall Systems
   

Split Systems

A split system works by separating the evaporator from the condenser. This puts the condenser where the engine noise won't be as loud, making it a great choice if your cellar is located near living space.

The condenser tends to be the noisiest part of a cooling unit, and a split system cleverly places the condenser out of the way so the engine noise won't be as disruptive. This style of system is also relatively simple to install.

You can shop Split Systems here

Fully Ducted Systems

Fully ducted systems come available as split systems or a completely self-contained unit. While these are the most expensive system, they are very easy to install and provide the least disruption. Many people choose this cooling system design if their wine cellar is underground, as they are of exceptional quality and allow for the greatest level of control in their operation, and are very useful if there are no internal walls to attach through-the-wall systems to.

You can shop Ducted Systems here

Through-The-Wall Systems

If you're looking for an inexpensive way to ventilate your wine cellar, a through-the-wall system is an excellent choice. These are typically installed between the wall studs in your cellar and are entirely self-contained. If your wine cellar is located in a basement, a through-the-wall system is ideal, particularly if you have an unused room where it can vent.

You can shop Through-The-Wall Systems here

Does a Wine Cellar Need Ventilation?

Wine cellars need proper ventilation to control the temperature and create the perfect aging conditions for wine. To achieve this, you need a cooling unit that can handle temperatures up to 55°F cooler than the temperature on the unit's exhaust side.

For example, if you want to maintain a temperature of 50°F in your cellar, then the room where you have your exhaust should never be higher than 100°F.

You need to ensure that your wine cellar provides ample ventilation for the cooling system's exhaust so that it can sustain the right temperature at all times.

Ventilating the heat that a cooling system generates is crucial to maintaining your wine cellar's proper temperatures and climate conditions.

Does Humidity Matter for Wine Storage?

Yes humidity is really important for wine storage. Humidity keeps the cork from shrinking and drying out.

If your cellar is too dry, the cork becomes shrunken and damaged from the lack of moisture, which then lets in air and ruins your wine by literally turning it into vinegar.

Too much humidity can also lead to mildew and mold, which is why it's vital to keep your wine cellar at the perfect relative humidity level.

Here are the main factors affecting humidity in your cellar:

• Climate
• Temperature
• Season
• Region/Geography
• The quality of your cellar

How to Control Humidity in your Wine Cellar

For Humid Climates

If you live in a humid climate, then you want a cooling system that can keep a relative humidity of about 50% to 70%.

A premium-grade cooling unit can get the excess moisture out of your cellar via condensation or a drain line.

The benefit of using a unit is

For Dry Climates

If you live in a dry climate, then it's harder to control the humidity.

Cooling systems can't create humid air, so you need to use a non-heated humidifier or a small water fountain to help add moisture to the air.

You can use a humidity monitor to help manage this.

Summary

If you have a wine cellar, it's crucial to keep it adequately ventilated, cooled, and climate-controlled, no matter if it's located deep underground, in a basement, or in a spare room.

The temperature, climate, and humidity of your wine cellar affect how the wine ages and how it will ultimately taste.

Take every factor of your particular wine cellar into consideration when selecting the right cooling unit for your wine. 

Contact us here at Wine Cellar HQ and check out our collection of superior quality cooling systems to protect your investment and properly age your wine.
 

Randy Green

Randy is a true wine storage aficionado and expert in wine cellar design. He gained construction experience as a partner in a general contracting business before niching into and passionately focusing on creating wine storage solutions for clients in 2016. He takes great pride in bringing these designs to life, and is dedicated to ensuring that every wine cellar he creates is not only functional but also a beautiful addition to any home or business. The Wine Cellar HQ team also includes refrigeration sizing experts and licensed HVAC technicians to ensure optimal climate control for your wine cellar, so that your wines can age to perfection.