One of the cleverest ways of owning a great wine cellar is by installing a spiral wine cellar. Spiral wine cellars were first designed by a Frenchman in the 1970s who saw an unique opportunity to use the space below ground in one’s home to store wine. This type of wine cellar is perfect as it can be built into one’s property despite any limitations on space as well as certain ground conditions. It is also a much more cost efficient way of installing an underground cellar that can easily be accessed from above.
A spiral wine cellar is basically an extension that is constructed downwards and is composed of concrete units that are built cylindrically. These units typically measure two meters in width and various depths measuring up to three meters. A trapdoor provides access to the cellar with a spiral staircase featuring a honeycombed wall lining that serves as storage space for wine. It is an incredibly efficient use of space – space that would not typically be used for anything else.
The great thing about spiral wine cellars is that they can be installed just about anywhere in one’s property, whether underneath the kitchen, the dining room, or the garage. It can be installed into an existing room on the ground floor, or incorporated as part of a renovation, extension or new property. It is also able to store over a thousand wine bottles with no need to utilize power for it to operate.
Size and Capacity of Spiral Wine Cellars
Spiral wine cellars typically hold anywhere between 600 and 2,000 bottles of wine. A small spiral wine cellar requires a depth of 1.35 meters whereas the larger spiral wine cellars require a depth of 3 meters.
Best Conditions for Spiral Wine Cellars
There are several essential factors to consider in the proper storage of wine. The most important is the environment’s temperature. When wine is kept in an area that is too warm, aging happens quickly and the wine loses its vitality, leaving it stale. Ideally, the temperature in a storage area must be around 13°C although around five degrees higher or lower would still be good enough. The important thing to remember is that abrupt fluctuations must be avoided as wine always prefers gradual changes. With proper ground insulation, wine is kept at a constant temperature by the spiral cellar so that it ages beautifully as wine should.
Humidity is also a vital aspect in the proper storage of wine. Wine bottles must be positioned horizontally in an area that is slightly moist so that corks do not dry up. When they do, shrinking follows and air is able to gain access into the wine bottle, which then oxidizes the wine. The suggested humidity in the area is 70%, equivalent to the spiral wine cellar level.
It is believed that vibration can also have a negative effect on wine, which is why it is best to avoid it as much as possible. The reason why wine bottles must be stored in dark places is because exposure to light can result in certain chemical reactions that are not good for wine. Dark, quiet, and damp – these are what make the perfect atmosphere for a wine cellar.
This is the great advantage of having a spiral wine cellar – the temperature and humidity remain at a constant level, vibrations are minimised and the cellar is kept dark.
How to Build and Install a Spiral Wine Cellar
Installation is not a difficult process as each aspect of construction is handled by professionals from spiral cellar companies. The first step involves conducting a site survey, followed by an application for the approval of buildings regulations by the engineer. Once approved, installation takes about 5 short days. With a spiral wine cellar, wine storage will always be in the best conditions, no matter the length of time they are stored.
It is important, however, that a spiral wine cellar is not constructed in a position that is more than 7 meters away from the nearest exterior wall, so that ventilation systems can be properly installed. Spiral wine cellars are also best placed in north-facing areas of the home (for the Northern hemisphere) or south-facing areas (for the Southern Hemisphere). This ensures optimal temperature and ventilation control. A waterproof lining is also required around the outside of the spiral wine cellar to ensure that there is no issue with underground water.
When building a spiral wine cellar, temperature control can be achieved by using a passive ventilation system. Cool air enters the cellar from a pipe at ceiling level which in turn pushes any warm air upwards and out through a second pipe in the ceiling. All warm air is fed out through the pipe to above ground and outside of the property. This creates an appropriate flow of air through the cellar whilst maintaining an optimal temperature and humidity level.
Best Spiral Wine Cellars
Spiral wine cellars can cost between $15,000 and $40,000, depending on size and installation requirements. While expensive, the total installation price of a spiral wine cellar is typically lower than a full-blown underground or basement cellar.
Spiral Cellars, based in the UK, are the current leaders in providing this type of underground wine cellar.