Optimize the cellar for storing wines, following the suggestions of Luciana Cilemmi Giachi, to create a practical and functional space in your own home.
How to organize a cellar
Furniture and basics for tasting wine
Having a small or a large space in your house to use as a wine cellar is an excellent idea: it lets you preserve your best bottles and keep them at the right temperature to taste them at their best. Choose a cool room, not exposed to sunlight.
You don't need to spend much to set it up — just a few materials and adequate space. You can recycle an old bookcase or a bedside table no longer in use. Simple shelving, sturdy and wide, is the main element for a DIY wine cellar.
How to organize a cellar
Lighting
The choice of lights is also important for a cellar that is both beautiful and functional, since natural light is often not enough. Enthusiasts can build a brick wall or fit the wall with special fixtures. It's important to arrange single bottles horizontally: stored this way, they keep well, and the cellar looks organized and well stocked. If you're lucky enough to have a spacious cellar, it's lovely to turn it into a real wine shop for your prized bottles, completing the furnishings with a table and stools for wine tasting.
I recommend using stone and brick for the walls and floor, together with fine wrought-iron elements, to give the cellar a refined, valuable look.
How to organize a cellar
Storing the wine
Wine is essential, and it shouldn't be missing from the day's meals as a companion to the food. To keep bottles in excellent condition, I recommend storing them horizontally: this way you make the best use of the space available, whether large or small. This position also keeps the wine in contact with the cork, which maintains the same degree of moisture and ensures a perfect seal. If bottles are kept upright, the cork dries out and the wine's storage suffers.
Wine bottles should be divided by type and placed on the right shelf: at the top of the rack, where the temperature is higher, red wine; in the middle, lighter reds and rosé; on the lower shelves, white and sparkling wine. The optimum temperature of the cellar should stay constant between 45 and 65 degrees, with humidity between 60 and 70 percent. Proper storage is essential to preserving the quality of the wine.
To have a good cellar, stocked with
Red wines
Your cellar shouldn't be missing: at least two wines from the Italian region of Piemonte (Barolo or Chianti, and a Dolcetto); a few bottles of Valpolicella, both Classico and the pricier Amarone; two wines from Trentino, Alto Adige or Friuli made from international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir; and at least two or three products from central Italy made from Sangiovese, the most important grape — you can choose among the various types of Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the very valid Chianti Classico Riserva, the pricier Brunello or the more affordable Rosso di Montalcino, along with numerous IGT Super Tuscans.
You shouldn't miss some of the leading wines from the South, less well known but just as valid, and now in full "comeback": among others, we suggest Taurasi from Campania, Aglianico del Vulture (Basilicata's only DOC), the classic Nero d'Avola from Sicily, the international Syrah, which has found an excellent home in Lazio, Calabria and especially Sicily, and finally one of the varieties of Primitivo from Puglia. In the right season, a Vino Novello is very welcome: in this field, in our opinion, the classic Beaujolais Nouveau Village is still unmatched, although many Italian producers offer novello wines of excellent quality.
To have a good cellar, stocked with
White wines
The stock of white wines can be more limited. Make sure you have two aromatic wines for an aperitif: excellent whites made from the international Gewürztraminer of South Tyrol and Riesling produced in Oltrepò Pavese. For dry wines suited to fish, choose among several bottles of Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Bianco di Custoza, Vermentino from Liguria or Sardinia, Orvieto, Greco di Tufo from the province of Avellino, the classic Verdicchio from the Marche, and a demanding Bianco d'Alcamo from Sicily.
To have a good cellar, stocked with
Rosé wines
Essential too are a few bottles of rosé, to pair with pasta dishes with vegetables or with flavorful fish dishes: your cellar shouldn't be without a Bardolino Chiaretto or a Lagrein Rosato from South Tyrol, a Bolgheri Rosato and a rosé from the South, such as Salento IGT or Cirò Rosato.
To have a good cellar, stocked with
Sparkling wines
Stock up on a few bottles of Italian Metodo Classico (the ones from Franciacorta are excellent), but don't miss out on a Champagne either — preferably from a small producer, which is often better than the well-known brands and more for the connoisseur. Less expensive but excellent, also as an aperitif, are Italian Metodo Charmat sparkling wines, both dry and semi-sweet: you'll be spoiled for choice. To go with classic pastry desserts, keep some Moscato d'Asti in the cellar too (sparkling or lightly fizzy, depending on your taste); some sweet red wines are excellent as well, such as Malvasia di Casorzo or the better-known Brachetto.
To have a good cellar, stocked with
Dessert wines and liqueurs
Finally, keep a few bottles of sweet raisin wine for your guests, to pair with dessert or to drink after a meal. Unsurpassed, even for the price, is the French Sauternes, which finds strong competition in Muffato della Sala; more accessible are Malvasia delle Lipari, a Verduzzo di Ramandolo, and the rare but excellent Moscato di Scanzo, a red "meditation" wine from the province of Bergamo. Among the classic liqueur wines, Vinbeato should not be missing.
FAQ
What temperature and humidity should a wine cellar maintain?
The optimum temperature should stay constant between 45 and 65 degrees, with humidity between 60 and 70 percent.
How should wine bottles be stored in a cellar?
Bottles should be stored horizontally, which keeps the wine in contact with the cork and maintains a perfect seal.
Where should red wines be placed on the cellar shelving compared to whites?
Red wine goes at the top of the rack where the temperature is higher, lighter reds and rosé in the middle, and white and sparkling wine on the lower shelves.
Which red wines should never be missing from a well-stocked cellar?
The cellar shouldn't be missing at least two wines from Piemonte such as Barolo or Chianti and a Dolcetto, plus bottles of Valpolicella Classico or Amarone.
Which white wines are recommended for pairing with fish?
For fish, recommended choices include Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Bianco di Custoza, Vermentino, Orvieto, Greco di Tufo, Verdicchio and Bianco d'Alcamo.
