Good wines only reach their full potential if they can mature. For this, a wine cellar or a wine cabinet is essential. How to choose?

It is essential that the wine be stored in a dark place, at a constant temperature of 10° to 15°, with a humidity level of 50% to 80% (important for the cork, not for the wine), free from vibrations and with natural ventilation.
Should we even add that wine must also be kept away from any potential contamination by odours and foodstuffs or other products? This is because wine is a living product and therefore very sensitive to its storage conditions.

There are only two possibilities here: either the wine cellar provided for in the construction or renovation, or the wine cabinet.

The ideal cellar

Ideally, your wine cellar will be made of wooden walls. And not entirely of concrete, contrary to popular belief. Simply because concrete will make it more difficult to install the necessary air-conditioning system, which pulses the air from another room. However, wood alone will not guarantee you insulation. This insulation must be of a high standard, so that the cellar is as inert as possible.

For the paint, choose a latex that is anti-mould. Dark, so as to avoid the reflection of light. There is nothing to stop you from decorating your walls with stone. Here, opt for natural stone. To fix it, however, you should avoid any product that gives off odours, as these could influence your wine through the cork.

What about the floor? It goes without saying that it can only be a covering that is completely insensitive to moisture, mould and odours. So, once again, natural stone, ceramics, etc. are the best choice.

The air conditioner is unavoidable. It will maintain the temperature and humidity level. Its power will depend on the volume of your cellar. It should be noted, however, that an air conditioner that creates humidity rather than simply retaining it is usually not necessary, unless the ambient atmosphere is particularly dry.

Finally, the lighting is no less important. Neon lights should be avoided. Minimal lighting is best, possibly with a second, additional light or a dimmer. LEDs are ideal, especially as they produce very little heat.

The cabinet alternative

If you cannot provide a wine cellar when building or installing a wine cellar, the alternative is a wine cabinet. An alternative that guarantees the same qualities as a wine cellar. Only the atmosphere will be lacking.

The wine cabinet is "climatic" and thus perfectly reproduces the conditions in the cellar, with a constant temperature and controlled humidity. And of course, your wines will be safe from odours and shocks.

There are many different types of wine cabinets. The only problem is the choice. This is determined primarily by the number of bottles to be stored. Most experts agree that 200 bottles is the maximum for an individual.

Wine cabinets are usually offered with one or two temperature zones. The two zones are of course intended to differentiate the temperature levels for white and red wines.

It should also be noted that wine cabinets are available in a very wide price range, from around 200 to 4,000 euros depending on the number of bottles and certain equipment.

One last little tip: build your wine cabinet into your kitchen!