guide
Self-contained vs ducted-split cellar cooling, compared
When to choose a through-the-wall unit, when to step up to a ducted split, and what each one really costs once installed.
The JournalWine cellars · climate · design · counselVol. 01 · October 2026
The cover story · guide
Designing a modern wine cellar
Read the story
The house
We design and build wine cellars. This is the counsel we wish every owner had on day one.
Every piece here comes from a cellar we worked on or equipment we tested ourselves: what to ask, what to skip, and why. No sponsorships, no guesswork, no salesman in the room.
Contact our experts
Building a cellar?Talk to us first.
Advice, design, and build from the people who make wine cellars for a living. Ask a question, send your plans, or hand us the whole project. A specialist replies personally.
Contact our expertsFree · reply within two business days
How we can help
- № 01Advice before you commit
- № 02Design
- № 03Build
- № 04A second opinion
What we cover
Four disciplines№ 01
Climate
Temperature stability, humidity bands, vapor barriers, and the load calculations behind a real BTU number.
№ 02
Design
Materials, racking geometry, lighting, doors, and the proportional choices that separate a room from a cellar.
№ 03
Equipment
Cooling units, ducted splits, condensate management, humidification, and the controls that hold it all in range.
№ 04
Reviews
Honest tests of the gear we install for our customers, measured in real cellars over real seasons.
Latest from the journal
All pieces →
guide
Choosing a through-the-wall cellar cooling unit
What we look for in a self-contained cooling unit, and the four traps to avoid when buying one for a residential wine cellar.
