Converting my walk-in into a wine cellar.

[Light this!]

Gentlemen, I'm converting my cigar walk-in into a wine cellar. I enjoy wine and know a bit about it but was wondering if I needed to do anything else. For all you wine enthusiasts, what is the ideal temp/humidity and what type of modifications do I have to make? Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
I'm going to remove the shelves and purchase some wine racks from the Wine Enthusiast.
 
Thanks
Kristopher
 

 

[kona1000]

50 degrees, 50% humidity

I'm on cellar tracker its awesome.

 

[modo22]

this sounds like an awesome idea!  Very jealous and looking forward to some pics/process updates.

 

[CigSid]

I have been storing wine for about 20 years, with great success. The experts vary wildly on temp and humidity, but the general consensus is 55 degrees and 70 percent humidity. The main things to avoid are light and temp variations... My actual temp is about 58 degrees, and my humidity in my wine cellar is 68 percent...
 
Great idea, and I am looking forward to trying some of your wine :thumbs:

 

[Napa_Smokes]

Temp Range should be 45-65 degrees with 55 being the optimal. Humidity between 50% and 80% with 65-70% being consider optimal.
 
CigSid hit it pretty much on the head. If you are within this range you need to be more concerned with major influx in temp, UV light and vibration than anything else. You might need to add some insulation into your walkin before turning it into a cellar which can be a bit of a pain but not to hard to do. Besides if you keep it at 55-60 degrees and 62%-68% humidity you can still hide a box or two of cigars in the back :whistling:

 

[modo22]

 
 Besides if you keep it at 55-60 degrees and 62%-68% humidity you can still hide a box or two of cigars in the back :whistling:

 
I know you've seen the Jar humidors from different cigar manufactures.....how about a wine bottle humi! 
 

 

[bfreebern]

 

 
 Besides if you keep it at 55-60 degrees and 62%-68% humidity you can still hide a box or two of cigars in the back :whistling:

 
I know you've seen the Jar humidors from different cigar manufactures.....how about a wine bottle humi! 
 
 

 
Here's the infamous Opus in a bottle:
 

 

[MadMonk]

Temp Range should be 45-65 degrees with 55 being the optimal. Humidity between 50% and 80% with 65-70% being consider optimal.
 
CigSid hit it pretty much on the head. If you are within this range you need to be more concerned with major influx in temp, UV light and vibration than anything else. You might need to add some insulation into your walkin before turning it into a cellar which can be a bit of a pain but not to hard to do. Besides if you keep it at 55-60 degrees and 62%-68% humidity you can still hide a box or two of cigars in the back :whistling:

 
Josh! I was wondering if vibration would be an issue in a walk in but, I believe they have specific coolers that cover this issue. Do you know if they are truly trustworthy?
Hope you doing well and that all your College Wine related studies are almost done. 

 

[Napa_Smokes]

Temp Range should be 45-65 degrees with 55 being the optimal. Humidity between 50% and 80% with 65-70% being consider optimal.
 
CigSid hit it pretty much on the head. If you are within this range you need to be more concerned with major influx in temp, UV light and vibration than anything else. You might need to add some insulation into your walkin before turning it into a cellar which can be a bit of a pain but not to hard to do. Besides if you keep it at 55-60 degrees and 62%-68% humidity you can still hide a box or two of cigars in the back :whistling:

 
Josh! I was wondering if vibration would be an issue in a walk in but, I believe they have specific coolers that cover this issue. Do you know if they are truly trustworthy?
Hope you doing well and that all your College Wine related studies are almost done. 

Vibration really isn't a hugh issue in most wine cellars especially a walk in if using the correct type of cooling unit. I have two different cabinet units though both are pretty much empty now and never had an issue with vibration. There's a greater issue in free standing units of the cooling unit failing lol.

Schools going well I'm prolonging it by a year to try and get a pca license as well as te degree.

 

[Light this!]

I have been storing wine for about 20 years, with great success. The experts vary wildly on temp and humidity, but the general consensus is 55 degrees and 70 percent humidity. The main things to avoid are light and temp variations... My actual temp is about 58 degrees, and my humidity in my wine cellar is 68 percent...
 
Great idea, and I am looking forward to trying some of your wine :thumbs:

 
 
Thanks Bill. Heck maybe we can start trading wine back and forth soon.
 

Temp Range should be 45-65 degrees with 55 being the optimal. Humidity between 50% and 80% with 65-70% being consider optimal.
 
CigSid hit it pretty much on the head. If you are within this range you need to be more concerned with major influx in temp, UV light and vibration than anything else. You might need to add some insulation into your walkin before turning it into a cellar which can be a bit of a pain but not to hard to do. Besides if you keep it at 55-60 degrees and 62%-68% humidity you can still hide a box or two of cigars in the back :whistling:

 
 
 
Josh, thanks for the info. It was insulated prior it to building it so I'm good there. Now about hiding a box or two in there - great minds think a like brother.  :thumbs:

 

[CigSid]

 

I have been storing wine for about 20 years, with great success. The experts vary wildly on temp and humidity, but the general consensus is 55 degrees and 70 percent humidity. The main things to avoid are light and temp variations... My actual temp is about 58 degrees, and my humidity in my wine cellar is 68 percent...
 
Great idea, and I am looking forward to trying some of your wine :thumbs:

 
 
Thanks Bill. Heck maybe we can start trading wine back and forth soon. 

 

I would love that Kris! let me know as soon as your conversion is completed, i have a few bottles to get you started brother...

 

[Tall Paul]

So is our cigars and domino night converting to wine and domino's this summer??? Lol

Can't wait to see the progress. Let me know if you are getting rid of any of the shelves Norm built.

Paul

 

[Light this!]

So is our cigars and domino night converting to wine and domino's this summer??? Lol

Can't wait to see the progress. Let me know if you are getting rid of any of the shelves Norm built.

Paul

 
 
Will do Paul. 

 

[cabaiguan juan]

I would love to see pictures of your wine cellar.  Maybe a time lapse or something showing the progression.  You know...if you dont mind. :whistling:

 

[Light this!]

Alright gentlemen, I have an update. Humidor has been officially converted from a small closet cigar humidor to a closet wine cellar. I didn't take much pictures during the conversion but this is what I have from the cigar walk-in to the wine cellar.
 
It first started as a small closet walk-in that my neighbor built for me and damn to I miss it already but what the heck.
 

 

 

 
 
 
Then it got slowly filled:
 

 

 
 
And then it really got filled:
 

 
 
I then ended getting an Aristocrat that started to get filled before I stopped smoking regularly. This baby was sold to my buddy Michael (whylieineedacigar)
 

 
 
And now to the newly converted wine cellar. What my neighbor ended up doing was to make wine shelves for the existing spanish cedar shelves that were there already. We ending up taking out all the shelves and making new ones out of African Mahogany. The Spanish Cedar scraps now belong to our friend Tall Paul. I told him that I would give it to him.
 

 
 
 
New shelves:
 

 
 
New shelves installed:
 

 
 
 
Humidification unit and the Peltier cooling unit:
 

 
 
Semi filled cellar:
 

 

 
 
One more thing - I was able to keep my small cabinet humidor that my neighbor built for me. I believe that I have about 300-500 singles in there  :thumbs:
 

 

[oke&coke]

Good God, I didn't realize what you had going on there.  Looks real nice.

 

[MadMonk]

Very nice! 

 

[Tall Paul]

Norm is amazing I can't wait to see it in person!

Thanks again for the wood.

Paul

 

[Spad31]

:0
 
Holy. Sheeite.
 
*swoons and falls to floor*
 
Will you marry me? I mean, I know it's sudden and awkward, and the whole I'm-into-women thing I have, but...
 
What the hell do you dudes do for a living that makes collections like that even possible? I'm all badass with myself for a box of PSD4s and a wineador...
 
I...I may not even be worthy of posting in your thread.
 
-Trey

 

[Not A Nice Person]

Living in South Texas, I'd love to know a little more about your Peltier unit . . . I have a small (4' X 4') walk in closet in my office I've long dreamed of turning into a walk in humidor (with some wine and Scotch storage).  My choices are running a drop from the house A/C (much cheaper, but messes with humidity levels) or something like that.
 
Looks gorgeous in both versions, btw.  Outstanding.
 
~Boar