How do you choose between an ageing cellar and a service cellar?

When designing a kitchen with an integrated or built-in wine cellar, it's essential to understand the end-user's needs. Do you need a service cellar or a ageing cellar ?What's the difference between the two? And above all, which wine cellar should you choose according to your use, available space and consumption habits ?

Whether you're a kitchen professional, installer or home enthusiast, this guide will help you make the right choice.

Service cellar: for tasting at the ideal temperature

What is a service cellar ?

The service cellar is designed for bring bottles to the ideal tasting temperature. It doesn't replace an ageing cellar, but it plays a fundamental role in enhancing the wine when it's ready to drink.

It is therefore perfect for connoisseurs who drink wine regularly and want to serve it in the best possible conditions, without waiting for years.

Differentiated temperatures

The models double zone are the most common:

• A zone for red wines (often set between 12 and 18°C)

• A zone for white wines, rosés or champagnes (often between 5 and 10°C)

Visit setting accuracy is crucial, and Avintage cellars offer digital temperature management, sometimes even connected via Wi-Fi for added comfort.

Ideal for kitchen integration

The service cellars are designed to be built-in or built-in-out in kitchen cabinets, under countertops or in columns. Their format and aesthetics adapt to every project, with models to suit every taste from 18 to over 100 bottles.

Aging cellar: for long-term preservation

A cellar that reproduces natural cellar conditions

The ageing cellar is designed for conserve wines over several years, in optimal conditions. It must :

• Maintain a stable temperature of around 12°C

• Offer controlled hygrometry

• Protect bottles from light (solid door or UV filter)

• Limiting vibrations

• Ensure good ventilation (with a active charcoal filter)

It is suitable for collectors or enlightened amateurs who want their crus to age safely at home.

A more traditional positioning

The ageing cellar is generally larger, it is often installed freestanding (outside the kitchen), in a storeroom, laundry room or dedicated space. It is not designed to be integrated into the kitchen, but for the long-life storage.

Service cellar or ageing cellar: which to choose ?

Here are the criteria to be analyzed before making a choice:

And why not combine the two ?

In some premium kitchen projects, the ideal is to an ageing cellar in a technical area for conservation, and a service cellar in the kitchen, a handy tool for preparing bottles for tasting.

Avintage offers a wide range of built-in, integrated, serving and aging cellars, with a coherent design and high-end technical features.

For modern kitchens, the double-zone built-in serving cellars are particularly popular. They are ideal for everyday use, while enhancing the living space.

In short: how do you choose ?

• Do you drink wine regularly ? Opt for a service cellar, with one or two temperature zones.

• Are you buying wines to age for several years ? A ageing cellar in a suitable space.

• Do you do both ? Combine the two types of cellar, depending on the space available.

Avintage Council
Before choosing your wine cellar, make sure you know exactly what you want:

• Available space

• The number of bottles to keep

• Your consumption frequency

• The type of wine you own

• Whether or not you need to integrate into the kitchen

There's a solution for every application. And Avintage offers both.