How to turn a custom designed shed into a wine cellar

Have you a taste for the finer things in life? Rare and exquisite wine, maybe? We wouldn't be surprised – many of Shed Boss' branches stretch all throughout Australia's wine regions, particularly regional New South Wales.

You might have been thinking about a custom designed shed, and the many ways it could work in your favour. Would it simply be a garage or a workshop, or do you have something else in mind? If you're interested in building your wine collection, then a custom design to use as a wine cellar or storage facility might be on the cards. But how do you make a shed a cellar?

Address the temperature

If you're ever going to create a wine cellar that holds a 1982 Bordeaux, then first you're going to have to regulate the temperature.

If you're ever going to create a wine cellar that holds a 1982 Bordeaux, then first you're going to have to regulate the temperature. It will depend on the exact type of wine, but usually you'll want to keep it somewhere between 12 degrees and 18 degrees.

There will be many ways of doing this, which will change based on where you are. A stuffy heated shed, for example, might benefit from some ventilation in the form of whirlybirds or electricity-powered systems. On the other end of the scale, you might need to add insulation while you're designing your own shed.

You also want the temperature to remain stable, rather than fluctuating throughout this range constantly.

Minimise the sunlight

While you'll want to get as much vitamin D as possible while the sun is out, your wine won't necessarily feel the same. In fact, keeping your cellar as dark as possible is going to create ideal conditions for long term storage.

So before you install those skylights or windows in the Shed Boss App, have a think – are you going to be using your custom design as a cellar? In that case, it might be time to turn off the lights!

How will wine be stored in your custom designed shed?How will wine be stored in your custom designed shed?

Work out what you're drinking

Do you have a taste for reds, prefer white wine or like a bit of rose? Depending on what you drink, you might want to theme your custom designed shed to suit. Think glass racks with stemless vessels for red wine, or champagne flutes for bubbles. 

According to Roy Morgan Research, 78.1 per cent of male respondents to their survey are more likely to drink red wine. Meanwhile, 69.3 per cent of women said they prefer to drink white wine. Women are also far more inclined to pick up a bottle of sparkling wine, while men have a slightly stronger predilection for fortified blends. 

If your custom designed shed is going to be a cellar, will it be one themed to a particular drop, or will you have a bit of everything?

Size matters

You should pay close attention to the size of the space.

When you decide that a custom designed workshop is going to actually be a wine cellar, you should pay close attention to the size of the space. If it is a dedicated area for wine only, then you might want it to be quite a small construction.

Alternatively, if you are building a larger barn or shed and want a specific area to be used as a cellar, you might wish to install partitions or even a mezzanine to keep everything separated.

Try out the Shed Boss App to see exactly what you can do to create an ideal cellar!

Our franchises have years of experience creating buildings that are tailored to people's specific needs. We take on the entire process, from initial quotes through to paperwork and construction from the ground up. If you want to discuss your options, don't hesitate to get in touch with your nearest branch! 

Posted in Residential Builds.