As the seasons shift, it's the perfect time to give your wine cellar the attention it deserves. 

Spring cleaning your wine cellar ensures that your wines continue to age gracefully, reaching their peak potential when you're ready to enjoy them. Temperature fluctuations, humidity imbalances, and dust can all negatively affect your bottles - especially rare or well-aged selections. Spring cleaning gives you the chance to refresh the space and optimise conditions, allowing your wine to evolve as it was meant to. Here are key areas to focus on: 

Inventory and Organisation 

Before diving into the cleaning, assess your collection. Check each bottle for signs of cork deterioration, label fading, or leakage. This is also the perfect time to reorganise your cellar by type, region, or vintage. Consider removing bottles you no longer wish to keep, or arrange a dinner party to open the ones you're unsure about – it's always a fun exercise and even better with friends. 

Temperature and Humidity Checks 

Maintaining the right temperature and humidity is essential for proper aging. Aim for a consistent temperature around 13°C and humidity levels between 60% and 70%. Take this opportunity to recalibrate your cooling system (if you have one) and ensure everything is functioning properly. 

Physical Inspection and Cleaning 

Dust can accumulate quickly in wine cellars. Carefully remove each bottle and clean the shelves using a soft cloth. A clean, organised cellar makes selecting a bottle an enjoyable experience and ensures your wines stay in pristine condition. 

Reorganise and Restock 

Once the cleaning is done, reorganise your cellar and update your inventory lists for insurance purposes. Whether you arrange bottles by region, varietal, or vintage, a well-organised cellar ensures easy access to your best selections and helps you track what you have on hand. 

We keep a close eye on our Family Cellar at All Saints Estate, as this is the space where we store and preserve all our back-vintage Museum wines. We believe spring cleaning your wine cellar is an investment in the future of your collection - by curating, cleaning, and optimising your space, you ensure that each bottle is kept in the best possible condition.