The type of wood used in creating custom wine cellars, wine racks, wine cabinets, and other wine storage products is a major consideration since efficiency, durability, and beauty also depend on the wood specie used. Almost all wine cellar builders and manufacturers are very particular with the wood resource they utilize. Others would prefer durability over aesthetics or aesthetics over low cost, and vice versa. But why compromise one over the other if you can get the best of both sides? In this article popular wood species will be discussed and some relevant comparisons will be made for you so you can already decide on what wood specie can perfectly suit your style and complete the look of your wine cellar.
First, let us talk about some of the most common wood species used in building wine cellars and other wine cellar products. They are alder, ash, cherry, mahogany, pine, red oak, redwood, and walnut. To narrow down your choices, the top three on the list are pine, redwood, and mahogany and the unique characteristics of each will be discussed further.
Pine – a less expensive wood specie
Pine is the most economical among the three and its uniqueness is attributed to the rustic appearance, smoother texture, and characteristic light vanilla color, making pine very pleasing to the eye.
Redwood:
- As a sustainable resource
Two of the largest certification programs in California recognized redwood forests to be a sustainable, biodegradable, renewable, and recyclable resource. Gained popularity in the promotion of green building, redwood resources definitely support the advocacy to save Mother Nature.
- Aesthetic advantage
Usually preferred for its aesthetic value, redwood comes in two different types – All Heart Redwood has a more consistent dark color scheme and is more expensive compared to Premium Redwood, which offers more attractive color variations from blondish to darker hues that can naturally enhance over time. Redwood is better left unstained but if you wish to put some luster in it, water-based stains can be applied.
- Long lasting quality
Redwood is also known for its natural oil preservatives which help develop redwood’s resistance to decay and warping. For wine cellars utilizing climate controlled systems, this type of wood is a good choice since it can withstand the temperature and humid conditions inside the wine cellar and in addition, redwood has a non-aromatic property which you (and your wines) will surely love. Why? Because wood aroma can penetrate the corks and subsequently alter the taste and smell of your wines as they age.
Mahogany – the best choice from standard to premium wine cellar design
The most durable among the wood species mentioned, mahogany is very much in demand not only in wine cellar building but also in the production of furniture, cabinets, or even sculpture. This wood specie can be made into beautiful wine racks, wine cabinets, countertops, wine cellar doors, chairs, and other fixtures that may be put inside a wine cellar. Mahogany has the following characteristics that most wine cellar manufacturers and wine collectors are after for:
- Stability
Mahogany has great resistance to decay, moisture absorption, bending, weathering, swelling, and shrinking and it is very adaptable to the temperature and humidity levels being maintained inside the wine cellar.
- Varieties of color
From light beige, to salmon pink, rich red and reddish brown, you get to choose what suits your taste. Mahogany also gives a lustrous finish when polished and stained so your design options are indeed great!
- Diverse subspecies
African Mahogany, Genuine Mahogany, Malaysian Mahogany – these are the three mahogany wood species most commonly used in creating wine cellars and of these, Malaysian mahogany is very much favored over the other two species because of its more affordable cost and even wood grain pattern that is very favorable for stain and lacquer application resulting to a marvelous wood finish.
Custom Wine Cellars – Essential Facts about Wood Species Used