Look at the adds for products, go see a few and carefully note dimensions, start building.
Wine is relatively heavy (the water alone is ~8 pounds per gallon) so design accordingly.
Using hardwoods for the horizontal members is pretty much required if you want a 'non-clunky' appearance.

Do you want to store large numbers of similar bottles, or all different bottles? The type of storage will differ.

If you will be storing similar bottles, you can use a bin system. Wine bottles nest. That is the necks of the bottles turned around, fit between a row of necks facing the other way. You can use this principle to store a lot of wine of the same type securely and in a relatively small amount of space, for example a space about 1 foot wide by 2 feet high by 14 inches deep will hold 45 bottles.

If this is the system you want, I will measure our bins and tell you the dimensions and construction methods. We have made bins to hold from 20 to about 200 bottles.

Sharon, Thanks for the response. I am looking for a system to age yet display my collection. I have a little over 1000 bottles in store displays or stacked cases. I want to build an attractive disply unit to hold these without the cost of premade commercial units. Something similar to what you see in the custom design cellars. I need the necks facing out for lableing.

Grancru

Grandcru,

Did you find anything more about this? My husband and I are renovating our basement level and would like to re-do the shabbily-built wine cellar that is there (and is falling apart). We've got a 5 x 7 insulated room to start with. I haven't been able to locate any plans either.

Thanks,
--DJ

Never did find any plans. I guess I will just wing it when I am ready. Shouldn't be to difficult. I'll take measurements of the racking at the local wine store.

Grancru

I have a book called 'A Home Wine Cellar' by Simms. It gives a very brief description of the process for building standard racking. Basically build a series of ladders and then connect. He uses 1x2 and 1x1 for construction.

My DH just built a walk in wine cellar for me. I need to order a cooler for it and we have a door on order. He plans to build storage for me to save money as well (and to give him something to work on).

Silver,
Would you be able to scan that and post it or send it to me? It would be nice to have a reference.
Thanks
Grancru