Category Archives: custom wine storage

A Successful Newport Beach California Wine Closet Conversion

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Closet conversion is becoming popular in the design and construction industry.  Many home owners are considering having a vacant small or large space in their home converted into something useful.

One residential owner in Newport Beach contacted a California wine cellar builder to request help in converting his closet into a custom wine cellar.  The client wanted a wine storage and display space that was both functional, and elegant.

Newport Beach  California Wine Closet Project Site

Newport Beach California Wine Closet Project Site

Vintage Wine Cellars, the California wine cellar builder that the client contacted, came up with a gorgeous custom wine cellar design.  It featured a stunning wine rack design to store and display wine bottles, a wine cellar cooling system to cool the wines, a glass wine cellar door, and matching wine cellar flooring.

Wine Rack Design Features

The wine storage and display racks are a combination of several different wine rack designs, including:

  • Single bottle storage wine racks
  • Horizontal display wine racks
  • High reveal display rows
  • Arched tabletop
  • Diamond bin cases
  • Rectangular bins

 

Single Bottle Storage Racks and Rectangular Bins

Single Bottle Storage Racks and Rectangular Bins

The single bottle storage wooden wine racks store 750 ml wine bottles individually, in cubicles with 3 ¾ inche openings, which are perfect for easy bottle access.  The bottle holders on each cubicle are hand sanded, to protect wine labels from scratches.

The horizontal display storage with a high reveal display row runs on the entire length of the walls.  This feature angles the wine bottles at 15 degrees, keeping the corks moist and the bottle tightly sealed.  An LED lighting fixture was also added, to illuminate the angled wine bottles on the display row.

At the center of the wine closet is a tabletop with an archway, where wine pouring or decanting can be done.  It features a lovely art piece, which is highlighted by a puck lighting.

At the bottom of the tabletop are solid diamond bins, which store wine bottles one on top of the other.  Diamond bins are ideal for bulk wine storage.

At the side of the wine closet are rectangular bins, which maximize the small storage space.  This wine racking style gives the wine collector an option to store wines by group (by variety, origin, size, age, etc.). This wine rack design is a wise option for storing 1.5L and 3L bottles.

The wooden wine racks are made of Premium Redwood, one of the best wood types used in the wine racking industry.  A dark walnut stain was applied to the wooden wine racks.  The natural aesthetic appeal of the stained redwood adds beauty to the wine cellar.

The total storage capacity of this wine closet is 840 wine bottles.

 Efficient Cooling using a Fully-Ducted Wine Cellar Cooling Unit

Wine Cellar Cooling Unit Installed in the Attic

Wine Cellar Cooling Unit Installed in the Attic

This Newport Beach California wine closet is highly functional, as it is equipped with a wine cellar cooling system.  This maintains the right balance of temperature and humidity inside the wine closet.

Vintage Wine Cellars installed a fully ducted wine cellar cooling unit from Wine Guardian.  It is a self-contained wine cellar cooling system, and it can be installed either indoors or outdoors.

For this Newport Beach California wine closet, the cooling unit was installed indoors, in the attic located just above the wine cellar.  The wine cellar cooling system is assembled in a platform with a drain pan.

The duct system of this wine cellar cooling unit supplies cool air into the wine cellar and exhausts hot air outside. A louvered grill that matches the wooden wine racks covers the cooling unit.

Wine Cellar Entryway and Flooring that Attractively Matches with the Wine Racks

Barolo Glass Wine Cellar Door

Barolo Glass Wine Cellar Door

The cellar door used is a Barolo style dual-paned glass wine cellar door.

This entryway has two door openings, and it has certain features that ensure a tight seal to the room, and these include weather stripping and a concealed door bottom.

The wine cellar door was coated with a Chestnut wood stain, creating a beautiful contrast against the Premium Redwood wine racks.

To enhance the look of the wine cellar, the owner chose a unique tile flooring. The color scheme of the flooring matches charmingly with the wooden wine racks.

Get Started with your Own Wine Cellar Design!

Vintage Wine Cellars did a great job completing this Newport Beach California wine closet renovation project, considering the limited space their team had to work on. Vintage Wine Cellars specializes in wine cellar design, installation, renovation, and even maintenance, for both residential and commercial locations.

If you have a custom wine cellar project in mind, whether in Southern or Northern California, just contact Vintage Wine Cellars California Wine Cellar Builder for a free design consultation. Visit their page at http://www.vintagewinecellars.com/.

New Component for Wine Cellar Refrigeration Systems Improves Performance

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US Cellar Systems, a California based wine cellar manufacturer that we work closely with recently announced an important new innovation in one of their commonly used components. The LRC Expansion Valve is now externally equalized. Learn how this is to be installed and some of it’s performance advantages.

The Expansion Valve by LRC

The Expansion Valve by LRC

New Expansion Valve

The LRC Expansion Valve looks almost like a pressure regulator, mounted inside one of the US Cellar Systems refrigeration system for wine cellars. It is a common component in all of the series offered by US Cellar Systems, except for the CC series.

Wine Cellar Refrigeration Technical Update – New LRC Expansion Valve Saves Time and Effort
This valve is now externally equalized. This gives the system better performance on all of the systems and makes it more convenient to adjust.

Installation of the New System by LRC

When installing, add a T with an access shrader. This has a key advantage. You will be able to measure your evaporator coil pressure at the evaporator, instead of having to go all the way out to the condensing unit to look at your gauges. This makes adjustments to your system much more convenient.

Wine Cellar Refrigeration System Adjustment

Adjusting Your Expansion Valve by LRC

Adjusting Your Expansion Valve by LRC

Use a 3/8” nut driver or a ratchet and a 3/8” socket.

You can adjust the valve by turning the head on the top of the regulator. To increase pressure you turn clockwise. To decrease pressure you will turn counter-clockwise.

Caution! Remember to make small adjustments. Never go all the way in with the adjustment. If you go too far in you can damage the diaphragm and then the expansion valve will no longer adjust. This damage will not be covered under warranty, so be very cautious when making adjustments to prevent such harm to the system.

Contact US Cellar Systems for Support and Advice

US Cellar Systems (Logo)If you’re in need of technical support for your wine cellar refrigeration system, contact US Cellar System here: +1(562) 728-5774.

If you’re interested in purchasing one of their systems, feel free to contact sales and customer support: +1(562) 513-3017.

This new expansion valve has important advantages; they can give you more information about it if you’re interested in learning more.

Limited Budget Should Not Hold You Back from Having a San Antonio Texas Custom Wine Cellar

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Do you think you can provide a proper wine storage space for your collection if you have a limited budget? The answer is YES! A reliable wine cellar builder can help you establish the appropriate budget for your project. Find out how a master builder in San Antonio helped their client build an affordable custom wine cellar.   

budget for wine cellarYou can Have a Custom Home Wine Cellar on a Budget

Scared of going over their budget, some homeowners opt for cheap wine coolers, or wine refrigerators to store their wine.  But keep in mind that unlike wine cellars, these units cannot protect your wines intended for long-term aging. They are not designed to stabilize both the temperature and humidity required to maintain wine’s quality.

Although a bit more expensive, a climate-controlled custom home wine cellar is highly recommended for long-term storage. It is equipped with a refrigeration system that will protect wine from being damaged by temperature fluctuations and wrong humidity levels.

wine cellar vs wine cooler

In addition to maintaining the ideal environment for wine, having your own home wine room also allows more storage capacity. It also adds value to your property.

Wine Cellar Specialists, a trusted designer and builder, can create a unique wine storage room that fits your financial requirements. They have been in the industry for many years, helping wine lovers fulfill their dream of having an affordable Texas residential wine room.

Transforming a Room into a Functional Wine Cellar

Philips wine cellar owner

In San Antonio, Texas, the Philips family wanted to have their own custom wine cellar where they could store their favorite vintages in the right conditions. They approached Wine Cellar Specialists, believing in the company’s ability to complete the project successfully, while staying under budget, and meeting their aesthetic requirements.

To ensure that proper storage conditions are created, every component must be carefully planned, designed and installed. Thorough planning ensures that the clients will be happy with the overall functionality and look of their wine cellar. Wine Cellar Specialists excel at this step in the design process, one of the reasons that their clients are always so thrilled with the end product.

To achieve the goals of the clients many important elements had to be planned for, elements you can be watching for when planning your custom wine room project. An expert building for wine storage will plan to insulate and cool the space specifically for wine cellars. They’ll take into account the custom features and racking options that best fit the particular client. All of these elements were accounted for in this San Antonio project.

Insulation

Philips Wine Cellar Insulation

Room insulation should not be taken for granted. Any room that will be equipped with a cooling system needs to be insulated before the installation of wine racks, flooring, and lighting. This will provide a seal to the room, preventing mold growth and other external factors that can ruin wine. Without the proper seal, you might spend more in the future due to the breakdown of your wine cooling unit, and high energy consumption.

For this project, the room was framed, and electrical components were added prior to the insulation of walls and ceilings using closed cell foam. Undesirable humidity and temperature fluctuations can be avoided if the vapor barrier and insulator are installed properly, leaving no gaps in the walls.

custom wine racking Philips wine cellarKit Wine Racking

In addition to choosing a trusted San Antonio, Texas wine cellar builder, using kit wine racks also help the builder stay under budget. Kit or ready-built wine racks were installed in the back wall and curved corners of the room. The back wall consists of individual racks and a solid diamond bin with arch and extenders.

Learn more about different kit wine racks from Wine Cellar Specialists.

Custom Component in a Custom Wine Cellar in San Antonio, Texas

custom wine racks Philips wine room

 

Custom features were incorporated into the wine cellar design, adding visual appeal to the custom wine storage room.

One of these is the waterfall display styled custom wine rack found on the left wall, which stores the bottles in a way that allows the labels to face up.

The solid diamond bins below it allow for bulk storage. This design is also perfect for storing large format and odd-shaped bottles.

Another custom feature of the wine room can be found on the right wall. The custom wine racking was designed to accommodate bottles individually, and allows for maximum airflow between bottles.

There are also solid diamond bins below the individual storage rack.

The Cooling Equipment

Wine Cellar Specialists San AntonioIn every project, Wine Cellar Specialists always makes sure that the most suitable cooling system is provided to their clients. For the Philips wine cellar, a refrigeration unit from CellarPro was chosen. Installed in an adjacent mechanical room, the wine cooling unit is designed for a quiet operation, and excellent performance.

Want to Invest in an Affordable Home Wine Cellar? Talk to a Master Builder.

Let Wine Cellar Specialists design and build a unique San Antonio, Texas custom wine cellar based on your allotted budget for the project. Contact them today at (210) 591-1595 or get a free 3D wine cellar design.