Wine cellars may not be too familiar to many people especially in countries where wine is not a popular drink or only a few are into wine collecting. A wine cellar may just be a simple room but there's a lot more to it than just an enclosed space filled with bottles of wine.

A wine cellar is a room where wines are stored, may they be in barrels, bottles, plastic containers, amphorae or carboys. Wine cellars are specially built to protect wines from harmful environmental elements such as temperature, humidity, light, vibration, heat and a lot more.

There are two types of wine room in terms of whether it is climate-controlled or not. A climate-controlled custom wine cellar is called an active wine cellar where the environmental factors such as temperature and humidity are controlled to provide the ideal wine storage conditions for wine aging. This is done by installing a wine cellar cooling unit inside the wine cellar as well as proper insulation and vapor barrier.

A wine cellar without a climate-controlled system is called a passive wine cellar. This type of wine storage room is usually found underground such as in a cave, where the temperature does not fluctuate intermittently and the environment is naturally cool and damp.

Wine cellars can also be categorized based on location. An underground wine cellar takes advantage of the colder temperature, firmer or more stable flooring and better shielding from temperature fluctuations. This is a great option for those with an unheated basement, root cellar or cold storage area at home and who live in cool regions.

Above-the-ground wine cellars are the most common custom wine cellars we see these days and they are usually found at home (residential wine cellars), in restaurants, wine stores or even at an off-site wine storage facility (commercial wine storage). Unlike underground wine cellars, an above-the-ground wine cellar is prone to temperature changes so it usually requires a wine cellar cooling system which can efficiently provide and maintain ideal wine storage temperature and humidity levels.

I mentioned above the importance of temperature. We pay special attention to this when talking about wine cellars because temperature has a pronounced effect on wine. It is important to maintain the temperature inside the wine cellar between 55 and 57 degrees Fahrenheit, a range just right to promote proper wine storage and aging.

Humidity on the other hand must also be kept constant at 55% to 65% to preserve moisture in corks and not damage wine labels. Light and vibration must also be controlled inside the wine cellar because direct exposure of wines to light and too much vibration can hasten chemical processes and alter wine's flavor, aroma and quality.

A commercial or residential wine cellar is also considered a piece of art which projects the owner's personality and lifestyle. For wine collectors, it is more than just a piece of furniture, it is a form of investment which adds value to their precious wine collection.