Wine cellar refrigeration systems come in all shapes and sizes
Custom wine cellars are a major investment for wine collectors and wine business owners in Orange County.
It is of utmost importance that they are designed and built with long-lasting functionality, great aesthetics, and high efficiency.
One of the critical factors that affect the efficiency of a wine storage room is the wine cellar refrigeration system.
The Essence of Proper Wine Cellar Refrigeration Systems
Proper wine storage is not just about organizing your wines or showcasing them beautifully. It involves effective temperature and humidity control to achieve the ideal environment for optimum wine aging. This is particularly vital for long-term wine storage.
One common misconception is that it is okay to store wines at room temperature and just chill it before drinking or serving them. Another misconception is that an air-conditioned room or a cold basement is enough to keep wines safe.
Ideally, the temperature and humidity in your wine cellar should be 57°F and 50%-70%, respectively
This incorrect information and practices should be corrected, especially when we are talking about expensive wines or a large collection of wine bottles. Wines are a delicate kind of beverage and can be significantly ruined if exposed to harmful and unstable temperature and humidity levels over a period of time.
To achieve the optimum wine storage environment, a temperature of 57 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels of 50% to 60% must be maintained.
Sources of vibrations and ultraviolet rays, such as the sunlight and lighting system inside the cellar, must also be eliminated or kept to a minimum because these can have harmful effects on wine.
What are the different choices of wine cellar refrigeration systems?
There are different types of wine cellar refrigeration systems. It is important that you choose the most suitable type for your wine storage and wine cooling needs.
Self-Contained Wine Cellar Refrigeration System
A self-contained wine cellar cooling unit the easiest to install and most affordable type of wine cooling system. This one-piece equipment is wall-
mounted and vents through the wall.
If you choose this type of wine cellar refrigeration system, you need to determine which wall you want to install it on. Some choose to mount it on an interior wall that is adjacent to another room, where the hot air and fan noise can be exhausted.
This adjacent room needs to have at least the same dimensions as that of the wine room and very good ventilation to accommodate the heat released by the cooling unit. The most commonly used room for this purpose is a garage, furnace room, mechanical room, or basement.
Another option is to install it on an exterior wall. If this is the case, make sure to choose a model that can work effectively in temperatures up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.