Customer Reviews

How and Why to Build a Wine Cellar 3rd Ed.

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Gold is a Ph.D. and you know it when you read the graphs that explain the relation between humidity and temperature. Despite the forbidding subject, Gold has produced an easy-to-read guide on how to build a wine cellar, but more importantly, on why to build it and what the goals of the design should be. I am building my secong wine-cellar now and what I learned from this book is invaluable. The book will also save you a lot of money that you would otherwise spend on cooling that not only you do not need, but is bad for humidity and constant temperature (I learned the expensive way, had to take mine out).

If I had to identify a drawback, it is the low-budget orientation of the book. Some can afford to spend more on wine cellars and it would be useful to know the more high-tech humidification and insulation alternatives, that the book does not cover. Then again, technology changes so fast, that such a segment would soon be outdated. Make sure to find a specialist insulation contractor.

I've recently begun collecting wine, and decided that I'd turn a corner of my basement into a cellar. I've read Dr. Gold's book cover-to-cover BEFORE even designing the cellar, and I'm glad that I did. He goes into detail telling you why something needs to be done (or ought not to be done), and provides lots of example. His dry wit makes reading the book easy and enjoyable.

I can hardly wait to begin building so I can collect more wine! (ok, I want to drink some too :-) )

My only reason for not giving the book 5 stars is due to typographical issues. The fourth edition really does need someone to thoroughly proofread it - there's numerous instances of "is" being used instead of "in", or some repeated words (e.g., "it it"), and one page where some addresses should be, but instead 1/2 of the previous page is reproduced. Nothing that makes the book unreadable, just slightly more typographical flaws than you'd expect to find in a book - and especially given that the author is an extremely refined fellow.

If you want to build a cellar, or are even just curious about doing so - BUY THIS BOOK.

This book appears to be full of good information. I used it to construct two small cellars, both using refrigeration. They measured up to 7' x 12'. For my third cellar (the collection just keeps growing) I hired a consultant, and discussed the cellar with several others. All disagreed with some of the very basic principles in Gold's book. He may have been first out with this information, but the book is not up to date. If you are undertaking a serious project, especially if it is underground, you are better off hiring a consultant with experience. As another reviewer pointed out, some of the information in the book is contradictatory. Some is just wrong. Some is useful only for cold weather climates.

My appreciation for this book increased dramatically with a second reading. It's part technical manual, part memoir, part pure entertainment.

While Dr. Gold gives us the most comprehensive how to guide I've seen on this subject, he also delves into the why. Not only the technical reasons to preserve your wine, but the reasons why it's an enjoyable hobby worth pursing.

With skillful prose, he interjects anecdote and humor to illustrate the process by which he accumulated the technical knowldege for building a wine cellar.

The main complaint I see in the reviews below is that people were expecting a book like the ones you buy at Home Depot giving you illustrated instructions on how to wire a wall socket. This is not that kind of book. You want to put some thought into what will work for you. Dr. Golds book guides you through this process and alerts you to some of the pitfalls.

I think Mr Gold's book is a good idea and his heart is in the right place but he will not win any awards for simple explanations. I've read this book cover to cover, some parts multiple times, in an attempt to decipher what he meant versus what he said. I find it confusing that Mr Gold discusses vapor barriers in two parts of the book and seems to say different things in each section, for example. I'm an intelligent person and can follow directions but Mr Gold's writing style does not sit well with me nor did it help to truly understand what I needed to do. If you are building a wine cellar in an unfinished old stink cellar, this may be for you, but if you are building a wine cellar in a finished basement or other portion of your house, obtain the "room preparation" documentation from a "wine enthusiast" type company instead.

I spent several months trying to determine what I should do about wine storage. I had accumulated about 300 bottles and was keeping them in our under-house dungeon, but was concerned about the long-term viability of that method.

This book promotes the idea of a passive cellar - no refrigeration/humidity unit. After reading it I set about building what really amounts to a "wine bunker" (the room is not for sitting about and sipping - only storage) based on its principles. The details are documented at www.rosebrugh.com

I'm very happy with the results and am glad to have found such a tome on the science of wine storage. Worthwhile reading even if you don't decide to take this route.

This book provides an excellent treatment on the technical aspects of building a wine cellar. That was its main goal and it achieved it. Some reviewers seem to focus on the author's attempt to explain his stocking methods as an example for actually using a cellar capable of holding a few hundred bottles. What's the big deal? Also, this was written when Bordeaux was much more affordable than it is today, yet Dr. Gold is labeled a wine snob. Go figure...

I've been thinking about building a wine cellar and was given this book as a gift. I couldn't be happier. The book is not only informative, it is clear and well-written. What's more, I took Dr. Gold up on his offer to follow up with him with any questions. He got right back to me with some helpful advice, and even an unsolicited wine tip!

If you know someone who's interested in wine or thinking of building a cellar, this will make a most welcome gift. And if you're thinking of building a cellar of your own, then treat yourself. You'll be glad you did.

If you are a lover and/or collector of fine wine, and your thinking of buying a manufactured, wine storage unit, STOP RIGHT HERE. This book will intelligently guide you through the process of planning and constructing your own wine cellar. Its a great step by step manual that covers everything from picking the best location, to creating the optimum environment(perhaps with NO artificial refrigeration), to acquiring and ultimately consuming your liquid treasures. Besides,if you have any background in light construction or know another wine lover who does, it makes for a very enjoyable project.

I read this book 18 months ago and I am just writing this review now because the only way to know if all of those principles and ideas really work is to put them into use and then monitor your wine temperatures for a year. I did and they do! I live in Minnesota and built a small cellar (cabinet, really). It holds about 150 bottles and is smaller than most. After reading this book, twice, I knew to place it in the Northeast shaded corner of my basement, build the walls to R-40, use no hardware that would conduct heat, and seal the opening well. The book is a fun read and is filled with all the info you need to build a storage spot for your wine. Don't buy good wine and store it badly !