My wine cellar is prepped and ready to install racking

For a wine lover, a cellar is nice to have. For a winemaker, at least one who has turned out just over 100 bottles a year for the last two years, a cellar is a necessity. Otherwise, all that wonderful juice just sits in large carboys or demijohns all year.

Don't get me wrong, I buy my share of wines just out of curiosity. Fine wines are worth paying for if you can store and eventually serve them in good condition. It is this reason and the fact that I make my share of wine that led me to build my own wine cellar.

The principles behind storing wine are neither difficult to understand nor to achieve. If you can't achieve all factors, then some are better than none.

If you're interested, here are the factors to consider if you are going through the effort to build a private wine cellar... as I am.

Building your own wine cellar