Ultimate Guide To Mold In Wine Cellars

Why does mold grow in wine cellars?

Wine cellars conjure up images of vintage wines, Italian Chateaus and rolling vineyards. Sadly they also often conjure up mold. Mold and mold spores thrive in dark, damp places and cellars provide a perfect mix of dark and humid. Thus, creating a breeding ground for mold. Cellars are humid and often kept so to maintain the integrity of both the cork and wine. It is essential to find the right balance of humidity to allow for optimal wine conditions and limit mold growth. 

For new builds, the wine cellar builder you work with will be able to provide expert advice. They will guide you through the design and build to ensure a cellar perfect for wine, not mold. In older buildings, it is worth making sure the cellar has been maintained. Maintenance including making sure it's ventilated, sealed and set up to prevent the growth of mold and dampness. It's worth calling on the expert knowledge of a wine cellar builder to help plan what updates and maintenance are needed to keep historical cellars up to date with modern technology including air cooling and ventilation systems. 

It's worth checking the foundation and walls to see if there's any water damage or water seepage within or near the cellar space. Both these common issues can contribute to mold growth in your cellar.  Ensure the air in the cellar is well ventilated and controlled to stop the growth and buildup of mold in the cellar space.  A cellar needs to be sealed and separate from the rest of the building to ensure the humidity required does not affect elsewhere. 

Is mold in a wine cellar a bad thing?

Wine cellars often bring to mind French wine caves with racks of wine covered with centuries of history (i.e. dust and mold). A bottle removed reveals the signs of age and vintage, its white-label slightly aged and marked with mold spots. While most experts agree some slight mold damage on a label can be a sign of aged distinction. Some argue mold can add flavor and notes to the cellar; there is a line between a touch of mold and an excess of mold. 

Small amounts of mold can be acceptable, especially in historic cellars. For a new build, ideally, you want no mold to occur. Your wine cellar builder will design and build the cellar with features to allow optimal wine preservation without excess mold growth occurring.  While it's hard to eliminate all mold, you don't want your cellar to become a petri dish for the next issue of Scientific America.

What types of mold are common in a wine cellar?

When dealing with mold growth, it is vital to establish what type to ensure the cleanup and prevention are as effective as possible. Generally, mold falls into three categories:

Allergenic: These molds cause allergies like sneezing, coughing or breathing issues. 

Pathogenic: These cause further health issues for those with illness.

Toxigenic: Those that produce a toxic substance are often called "toxic mold" and can cause severe damage. 

The most common molds seen in cellars are

Alternaria: an extremely common mold both inside and outside the house. This allergenic mold causes common reactions like sneezing and is often found in damp areas like sinks or cellars. Velvety texture with green-brown hairs. 

Aspergillus: an allergenic mold that often appears yellow in color and forms in water damaged areas or humid areas. This can become more toxic if not found and treated in time. 

Chaetomium: often found in water-damaged drywall it's usually found by the distinctive musty odor. This brown colored mold often forms in rope shapes along walls and surfaces. It's an allergen and can cause significant health problems if exposed over time. 

Cladosporium: found inside areas like wooden cabinetry and floorboards. This is often a problem in cellars due to the damp, humidity and wooden wine racks. Another allergenic is it can cause a variety of respiratory problems. Olive green or brown in color with a suede-like texture. 

Stachybotrys (black mold) this toxigenic mold is often called black mold. It thrives in damp, wet areas with high humidity levels, which makes it a cellar problem. Dark green or black with a slimy texture it can cause severe health problems. 

How can mold be removed from a wine cellar?

First, remove the wine, it is delicate and temperamental, and none of the options for removing mold will help the vintage. Remove it or if that is not feasible, ensure it is adequately protected from any mold treatments about to occur. For simple quick solutions, there's a range of Hydrogen Peroxide or Vinegar solutions you can DIY. Wipe down all surfaces with this solution and give it adequate time to dry and air before putting the wine back. If your wine is in a cabinet within the cellar, make sure you clean any seals and around any doors.  

For mold occurring on concrete or stone walls, it is best to repeat this process a few times to remove all mold.  If it is a large area of mold, consider working with a professional to make sure all the mold is removed and areas are thoroughly cleaned. Once you've removed the mold, it is essential to make sure you make changes to stop it from re-occurring. Speak to a wine cellar builder about optimal humidity and conditions to ensure mold won't grow back over time. 

 How can an air conditioner or cooling system help with mold? 

First, ensure your cellar remains at optimal temperature, and the humidity doesn't creep up. An air-conditioner or cooling system can help. Planned with a wine cellar builder, you can create a cellar that prevents mold from growing out of control while still staying humid enough for optimal wine storage.  It is important to get the correct cooling system or air-conditioning unit for your cellar as each cellar's size, location, and specifications will require different cooling needs.  

As well as allowing for temperature control, cooling or air-conditioning will enable you to properly ventilate the cellar, thereby reducing chances of mold growth and build up. While it sounds the opposite of the humid temperature needed for cellars, a cooling system allows you complete control over your cellar no matter the season or weather.  

Happy drinking!

The Beginner’s Guide to Wine Tasting

When attending a wine tasting, everyone wants to appear as if they know what they are doing. Looking like an amateur wine-drinker can feel embarrassing, despite “beginner” being a perfectly normal level of experience. After all, everyone starts somewhere.

However, if you want to feel a bit more informed and impress your friends the next time you visit a wine cellar, this beginner’s guide will give you all of the tricks, tips, and historical anecdotes that you will need in order to turn your amateur attitude into a professional’s perspective before you can say, “Wine and cheese!” 

The History of Wine 

One of the most important aspects of being knowledgeable about a topic is knowing its history. The history of wine is as rich as a Sauvignon Blanc, and it would take many pages to explain. However, there are a few interesting tidbits that you can learn today. 

Wine has taken over most of the world since its discovery. The very first winery that researchers know of exists in Romania. It is assumed to have been founded in 4100 B.C. and is the oldest known winery. Now, wine grapes are grown on six of the seven continents.

This explosion in popularity began the moment the drink was invented. Originally a ceremonial drink, and then later growing in familiarity as a more casually consumed beverage, this grape product continues to be revered to this day. 

Now that you have a small token of insight into the historical background of wine, let us move onto the topic of how to behave at a wine tasting.

Behavioral Boundaries 

When one attends a wine tasting, it is crucial to know some of the simple “do’s” and “don'ts” of the event. While remembering this advice may feel overwhelming at first, many of these tips make sense logically and will enhance your wine-tasting experience (as well as that of those around you). 

Our first “do” is palate cleansing. This is the act of neutralizing the flavors in your mouth so that you can ensure a full tasting experience. Between sips of different types of wine, be sure to ingest some water, and even a cracker or two (if provided) to keep your tastebuds open to new flavors. This will allow you to taste the flavors of the different wines more wholly. 

Next, do ask questions! While you may think that this act would reveal your status as an amateur wine-taster, it will actually prove that you feel comfortable and confident in inquiring as to the history or other details of your drink. Asking questions will also enrich your experience by allowing you to learn as you go. 

Lastly, do tip your pourer. While most wineries charge a tasting fee, your pourer will appreciate your polite gesture. If you have a great experience, leaving your pourer a tip is a great way to show your gratitude. 

Now it’s time for the “don’ts.” Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds!

Our first suggestion as to what not to do at your wine tasting is to wear perfume or cologne. Strong fragrances will interrupt your tasting experience, as well as interfering with that of those around you. The aroma of high-quality wine is the main aspect of the experience of consuming it, so you want to avoid doing anything to take away from that experience. 

The next “don’t” is a crucial tip, especially for those who are not extremely familiar with wine, or alcohol in general. It is this: do not drink too much too quickly. Wine tastings are meant to be enjoyable, and drinking more than you originally intended to will not only leave you with a forgetful night but also annoy those around you. Rather than focusing on the amount of wine you are consuming, utilize your five senses to really consider your drink. 

The last action that you will want to avoid is holding your glass by the cup. Instead, hold it by the stem. This will help keep your wine at the correct temperature, as well as keeping it viewable for those interested in the color and viscosity of the drink.

Where to Wine

After you have prepared yourself to behave properly at a wine tasting, you will want to find one to attend! There are multiple options for wine tasting venues. These include certain restaurants, wine cellars, wine tasting parties or festivals, vineyards, and even your own home for virtual wine tastings hosted online.

Simply search for a wine tasting event near you and enjoy! Remember to take along some friends (and a designated driver) to get the most out of your wine tasting experience. 

The Drink Itself

So, you are armed with the proper attitude and an event at which to taste some wine. What should you be looking for from the drink itself? There are three main properties of wine to look out for. They are what determine the wines’ tastes and make them different from each other. 

The first aspect of a wine that makes it unique is the type of grape that it was made from. This is one reason why asking questions is a great part of drinking wine! Either having the knowledge of where different wines come from or asking your pourer what kind of grapes make up your drink will inform you of what kind of taste you can expect. 

Another piece of the wine puzzle is the weather conditions under which the grapes you are consuming were grown. Different types of weather impact the fruit differently and result in many colors and flavors of wine. 

The last main property to look out for in your wine is when its grapes were harvested. The time at which the grapes composing your wine were picked deeply impacts the level of bitterness your drink will have, as well as its sweetness and sugar content. 

Who Can Taste?

You might be reading this and thinking, “That’s all fine and dandy, but am I even allowed to go to a wine tasting?” The answer is yes. If you are of legal drinking age and want to enjoy a fun experience, go to a wine tasting! Do not let your experience level or amount of knowledge stop you. Wine tastings are not just for experts of the drink. Wine tastings are for everyone! And how else should you be expected to learn than by studying different wines through tasting them? Never let someone else’s judgment prevent you from enjoying your wine tasting experience.

In Conclusion

At the end of the day, if you want to go to a wine tasting, it is great to be prepared. This will assist you in enjoying the experience more and allowing those around you to do the same.

However, there is no need to be a wine tasting expert in order to enjoy a night out with some friends tasting different styles of wine. Instead, simply follow our tips to avoid a serious blunder and just have fun! 

For more advice on how to enjoy drinking wine and other stories on the history of the beverage, visit our website again soon. And, as always, please drink responsibly.