How to create a wine cellar-img

How to create a wine cellar

More and more of you are willing to have a cellar, but where to begin, which wines to choose, and what region is to be favored? You will find below the key steps and our tips to get started the best way possible!

The location is a key criterium

The first thing to think about is the ideal location to store your precious bottles.

For the lucky ones having a cellar at home, be sure it has optimal conditions of conservation, being a temperature between 12°C and 16°C, a hygrometry level of 75%, and enough darkness.

If you do not have one, no worry! You can as well get an electric cellar. There are plenty of sizes for all budgets. If you choose this option, select the model that will best fit your needs. A service cellar is ideal to store wines for a short period of time, in order for them to be at the right temperature at the opening. The aging cellar on the opposite recreates the optimal conditions you find in underground cellars, with a lower temperature and a controlled hygrometry that allows wines to age peacefully.

Eventually, many actors offer nowadays an on-demand storage service, the perfect solution to age your greatest bottles.

Your desires are the common thread

After finding the perfect location, you need to estimate the number of bottles you want to put in the cellar and define your budget.

It is absolutely possible to get started with a small budget, it will depend on the medium price you are willing to put for each bottle and the total number of bottles to store.

You need to find a balance between wines for a spontaneous aperitif and for great events. We advise you to separate your cellar into three categories:

• Wines to enjoy while they’re young

Vintages to be appreciated on the fruit, perfect for casual occasions. Think about a natural sparkling wine, a Petit Chablis, Viognier from Ardèche, or a nice Gamay from the Auvergne region.

• Wines of semi guard to age between 5 and 10 years

Wines aged carefully, most times in oak barrels, that need a few more years to earn suppleness and reveal all their aromas, such as second wines of great Bordeaux castles and appellations like Cahors, Saint Joseph, or 1er Crus of Burgundy in both red and white.

• Wines of the guard, to keep in the cellar for at least 10 years

Grand Crus of Bordeaux, Côte-de-Nuits, Quarts de Chaume, Côte-Rôtie, or even Sauternes; many appellations offer a great aging potential and will express wonderfully with time.

We advise you to get your hands on memorable vintages for you, such as the birth year of our children, the year of your wedding, your graduation, and so on.

You will then be able to get these bottles out for lovely occasions and will get a nice souvenir of them.

One rule to follow: buy wines by pair!

You will then be able to open another bottle if you’re amazed at the tasting, and you won’t be disappointed if the wine is corked or has a default, plus, you will see how the wine evolute in your cellar.

The organization is the cornerstone of a successful project

As you know, wine evolutes and gets better over time, therefore good organization is required to enjoy it at its peak.

• Get yourself a cellar book

It is essential in order to control your stocks, keep track of your purchases and write down your tasting comments. 

In paper or digital format (many applications exist), this book will guide you through your next acquisitions and your overall organization.

Be also attentive to planning your purchases for the year. Many events such as visits to the properties, wine fairs, and others, exist to help you find new gems.

Last but not least

It is important your cellar is composed of wines you like that suit you. Wine is sharing before anything else!

We hope this article helped you see clearer and wish you a good start in this wonderful adventure!

Do not hesitate to contact Benoît Cornillault (benoit_cornillault@tourdargent.com) our Personal Wine Shopper that will happily guide you on your project of creating a cellar.

Begin with scrolling through the different selections of our Head Sommelier!

To the cellar >

le 22/02/2023
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