Wine enthusiasts often have diverse passions, including food, travel, music, and the arts, reflecting their appreciation for culture and fine living. Their homes become a reflection of their finer tastes as well. And building a wine cellar is among the first things they do.
However, a wine cellar isn’t limited to wine. Wine aficionados come back home from far-flung places with a variety of interesting items. How do you store such valuable things?
If you have a wine cellar and are wondering what else you can put in there, this blog is for you. But it is also for those who are contemplating building a custom glass wine cellar in their homes. After all, a cellar isn’t just practical but also multi-purpose. You can use it to nurture many interests.
Unlocking The Versatility Of Glass Wine Cellars:
The Caveat
Inside any type of modern glass wine cellar, the temperature is around 55°F with 60% humidity. These specs are different from an average refrigerator—it’s more humid and warmer. You cannot store priceless art on the walls or keep antique books in here, but you can store several other things.
So, what can you keep in your custom glass wine cellar besides wine? Let us give you a few ideas.
Beverages Beyond Wine
A variety of alcohol can be stored in a custom glass wine cellar. Here are some of the common items you can store in a customized wine cellar:
- Beer: A custom wine closet can also store beer containers like bottles, cans, growlers, and kegs, thanks to their hermetic seals. It’s an ideal spot for showcasing rare, global craft beers, especially styles that benefit from cooler temperatures, such as Belgian ales, sours, and Scottish ales.
- Cognac: Bottles of cognac are right at home among your cherished wine collection. The humidity levels, the darkness, and the controlled temperature create the perfect conditions for long-term cognac storage.
- Champagne: To preserve champagne’s effervescence and delicate flavors, proper storage is crucial. A custom wine rack in Houston provides the ideal cool and dark place tucked away from direct sunlight and heat. The temperature of 58°F is ideal for champagne storage, and the humidity must be around 70% to maintain cork moisture. It’s advised to avoid temperature fluctuations since they can accelerate aging and impact flavor. Also, make sure to store it in an upright position to reduce cork contact with wine. We don’t recommend storing champagne on the side since internal pressure can compromise the cork seal.
The Best Place For Olive Oil
This might come across as surprising, but custom wine storage is the best place for storing olive oil.
Olive trees and grapevines love the same climate, and it’s common for vineyards in California and the Mediterranean to make their own olive oil. If you came back from vacation with a few cans or bottles of high-end olive oil, you can store them in your wine cellar.
Similar to wine, oxygen, light, and heat are the enemies of olive oil. Thus, a cool, dim wine cellar built by companies like Wine Cellars of Houston is the ideal place to store it for the long-term.
Perfect Storage for Cured Meats and Cheese
Did you ever purchase a piece of gourmet cheese and it went bad even when you stored it in a refrigerator? It’s not your fault. A standard refrigerator isn’t the ideal place to store most gourmet cheeses since they need very high humidity (around 95%). But warning, cheeses that have a strong scent profile will probably leave an odor, so proceed carefully.
The other food items you can easily store in a wine cellar are specific varieties of salamis, cured meats, and sausages. If you have a custom wine rack in Houston, you can store unopened cured meats for months. However, it’s advised to check proper storage methods for the kind of meat you’re planning to store.
Cellars are Great for Cigars
Cigar enthusiasts in Houston, Texas, often adjust their wine cellars’ humidity to store cigars, aiming for 60-70% humidity. Consistency is key, and multiple climate zones in the cellar can be beneficial. It’s recommended to test storing a few boxes before committing to ensure optimal conditions.
The Favorite Spot for Hosts
A wine cellar can provide temporary storage for event preparations, offering a cool and stable environment for semi-perishable foods, catering platters, and produce when fridge space is limited.
Wrapping Up
A wine cellar can be more than just a storage space. With its significant investment of time, effort, and resources, it’s an opportunity to create a multifaceted area that reflects your personality and diverse interests.
