A wine cellar isn’t merely a room in the basement with a few racks to hold your favorite vintages. It has very specific requirements, mostly pertaining to mechanical systems that regulate temperature and humidity. If you decide to build a wine room, it's important to hire someone with the experience to do it right.
“Your first requirement is a split system,” says Marty Siegan, co-owner of Market Engineering's Wine Cellar Pro division. It is by far the best investment you'll make to ensure that your most cherished wines mature properly. A split system removes heat and moisture, taking them out of the room.
Some contractors opt for box units instead, a lower-cost option that Mr. Siegan compares to toasters. “They’re disposable. If something goes wrong with them, you end up having to throw them away and start all over,” he says. “That’s why it’s important to ask your contractor what type of cooling system they install.”
Be sure to ask your contractor what happens if mechanical systems fail—and particularly how long repairs take. Your wine cellar certainly shouldn’t be left without refrigeration for weeks.
