How to choose a wine cellar?

How to Choose Your Wine Cellar?

A wine ruined after spending too long in a cupboard? Red wines served too warm or whites served too cold? Bottles of wine left on the kitchen counter due to a lack of storage? Anyone who has faced these issues will eventually consider purchasing a wine cellar. However, it can sometimes be confusing to differentiate between a wine aging cellar and a wine service cellar. Before making your decision, follow our guide to discover which wine cellar is right for you!

Service Cellar or Aging Cellar?

There are two types of wine cellars: aging cellars and service cellars. Each type has its own characteristics designed to meet specific needs. Here’s what you need to know:

An aging or conservation wine cellar maintains a single, uniform temperature regardless of the bottle’s location within the cellar. The temperature is typically set between 12°C and 13°C, as this is the ideal range for aging wine to its peak. It is crucial that this temperature remains stable and does not fluctuate with the room temperature.

For aging wine, it’s also essential to have a good level of humidity, known as hygrometry, to prevent the cork from drying out and to avoid altering the wine over time. Aging cellars should provide control over the hygrometry between 60% and 80%. For optimal conservation, it is also necessary to minimize vibrations and UV exposure, which can be achieved with a solid or UV-protected glass door and ensuring good air quality.

A service wine cellar, on the other hand, is designed to bring wines to their ideal serving temperature. However, they generally do not offer control over humidity, air quality, or UV protection, and their capacity is usually smaller. Many service wine cellars offer dual or multi-temperature functions, allowing you to set the ideal serving temperature for red, white, rosé, or champagne wines all in one cellar.

Criteria to Consider When Choosing Your Wine Cellar

Now that you know the different types of wine cellars, you need to identify your needs. If you want to age your wines for years to enhance their quality over time, you should opt for an aging wine cellar. If you prefer to enjoy your wines at the best serving temperature at any time, a service wine cellar is what you need.

Wine cellars come in a range from small, affordable models holding around ten bottles to larger units accommodating over 300 bottles with various features. It’s important to assess your needs to avoid having a cellar that’s either underused or quickly running out of space. For an aging cellar, remember that a case of wine kept for 10 years occupies 6 bottle spaces for that entire period, so don't choose too small a model. You can also opt for an affordable wine cabinet with a medium capacity that fits into your kitchen.

You now have all the information you need to choose the best wine cellar for you and fill it with the many vintages available on Avenue des Vins!

FAQ - Choosing a wine cabinet

What is the difference between a service cellar and an aging cellar?

An aging cellar holds a single, stable temperature of around 12 to 13°C with controlled humidity, bringing your wines to their peak over time. A service cellar simply sets your bottles to the right drinking temperature, without managing humidity or air quality, and its capacity is smaller.

What temperature should a wine aging cellar be set to?

A wine aging cellar should be set between 12°C and 13°C. This is the ideal range for wine to age steadily toward its peak. What matters most is that the temperature stays stable and does not follow the room's fluctuations.

What humidity level is needed to age wine properly?

For successful aging, aim for a humidity level between 60% and 80%. This prevents the cork from drying out and the wine from deteriorating over the long term. A solid or UV-protected glass door and good air quality round out these conditions.

What capacity should you choose for your wine cellar?

It depends on how much you drink and how long you plan to keep your bottles. Models range from around ten bottles to more than 300, so assess your needs to avoid running out of space. Remember that a case kept for 10 years takes up 6 bottle spaces the whole time, so it is wise not to choose too small.

Can you store red, white and champagne in the same wine cellar?

Yes, as long as you pick a dual or multi-temperature service cellar. This kind of unit brings each wine to its ideal serving temperature, letting you keep reds, whites, rosés and champagne together in one appliance.