Want a Wine Cellar? A Garage or Shed can do the Job

Are you a big wine aficionado? Maybe you long to have a place to start a real collection, but a wine cellar just isn't in the cards for you. Maybe the basement is a family area or perhaps you don't even have a basement. The good news for you is that there are alternatives to building a costly underground room or kicking your kids out of their play area.

Rather than just having a tiny little wine refrigerator in the kitchen filled with your Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, and that Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon you managed to snag, you can have a full collection by buying a garage or shed. With one of our customisable sheds, you can not only have the space you need, but also control the layout and the features to create the optimal conditions for your endeavour. Here are some things you may want to consider when creating your wine 'cellar':

Design

You'll probably want to keep the collection away from the immediate vicinity of the door to avoid too much temperature fluctuation when you enter and exit. Therefore, it's probably a good idea to ensure there is a little extra space or invest in a shed layout that allows for some clearance. Another big thing to remember is to avoid adding windows. Natural light is nice, but it affects the temperature a little too drastically – and temperature control is going to be your main concern with a valuable wine collection. Also, direct sunlight can age wine prematurely.

Location

Where you place the shed will matter for several reasons. Obviously, if you can place it in a somewhat shady area, that'll help with cooling costs. And if you can place it in the backyard, it's probably the smartest way to discourage theft – that and investing in a simple pad lock. People looking for valuables may not know you have wine in there, and may be hoping for items that they can throw in a truck and take away to sell (like bikes, jet skis, etc.). When they find wine instead, they might take it to sell – or they might just drink it! So the harder it is to break in, the better. Also, it'll keep the neighbourhood teens out, too!

Climate Control

You'll obviously need to keep the wine cool. The ideal temperatures for wine range from about 7°-18°, with 13° being considered the ideal. In addition to the measures mentioned above, you'll need to invest in some kind of cooling system to manage the temperatures throughout the year – especially in the summer. You can either go for a really large wine refrigerator that you can store the bottles in, and the electricity to run it, or you can install a cooling system or unit in the shed. A climate controlled room is probably the better option if you are planning an extensive collection, but a refrigerator might not be bad for a smaller number of bottles, so consider what you want and plan accordingly.

Lighting

You'll need lighting in the building so you can choose the wine when you are actually planning to drink it. Try to keep it on the dim side to show off your collection in style and not be too hard on your wines, and remember not to set any lights too close to the bottles. And always turn off the lights before you leave – remember, ideal wine storage conditions are cool and dark.

These are just some of the things to consider if you are making a real investment in your passion for vino. By using a garage or shed for the project, you are avoiding possibly months of work creating a new basement (our sheds can be put up over the weekend), as well as saving some money. Take a look at our many designs for sheds and get started today!