[jyl]

I had an idea that I wanted to run by you guys.

I have about 8 cases of wine in the basement. It is not expensive stuff, mostly 1999 to 2006 cabernets and pinots from local (Oregon) vineyards, around $25-30/bottle bought at vineyards over the last few years. But, still, in aggregate it represents a bit of money and I think I should store it appropriately.

The basement is usually around 65F. A few degrees colder in winter, maybe 70F during summer heat waves. The central heat/air ducts are un-insulated and travel through the basement ceiling, giving it a certain degree of conditioning.

I gather that wine should ideally be somewhat colder. Should I go as far as storing the wine in a "cooler"?

If the answer is "yes" - I don't know, which is why I'm asking - then here is my idea.

I could build a box about 5' x 8' floor and 7' tall. It could rest on heavy duty casters. I could insulate it, install an insulated door. Then I could install a wine cellar cooling unit in one side. A unit rated for 250 cu ft is about $500, a third the price of a 96-bottle "wine cooler".

This moveable mini-cellar could live in the basement. I figure it could store at least 30 cases, so lots of room for "expansion". I wouldn't build racks for individual bottles, just shelves to hold the boxed cases on theIr sides.

Why "moveable"? Because eventually we're going to finish the basement, so I don't want to build anything permanent down there. Hopefully this mobile unit could eventually be "docked" into whatever floorplan we end up with. If not, it will not have cost too much.

Comments? Criticisms? Things I've missed? Don't bother?