When you think of wine cellars, the image of prized vintage bottles extending out from racks in a dimly lit cellar usually pops into your mind. While we spend all day romanticizing wine cellars and our collections, we can’t afford to ignore a crucial aspect- security!
Yes, everyone wants their cellar to look amazing and impress their guests. However, it’s important to remember that wine cellar doors in Houston, Texas and other locations like Bellaire or Conroe aren’t just for show. They are also here to keep your collection safe and protect your investment.
Ways To Increase Wine Cellar Security:
1. A Strong And Reinforced Door
Your wine cellar door is a crucial component that does most of the heavy lifting to keep your cellar secure from theft and environmental factors. That’s why it shouldn’t just be pretty but made from strong materials. For instance, reinforced wrought iron wine cellar doors in Houston Texas, and other cities like Katy or Kingwood, aren’t just heavy-duty, but stand up to fire, and don’t rot away. Moreover, with regular maintenance, they are at a low risk of corrosion.
On the other hand, if you want an indoor cellar with transparent wine cellar glass doors, make sure to opt for laminated glass that’s shatterproof and can resist significant impact. However, glass doors are notorious for being difficult to seal. That’s why you should hire an experienced and reputable wine cellar door maker like Wine Cellars of Houston who can get the job done.
2. Invest In A Robust Locking Mechanism
Your wine cellar doors should also have a robust locking mechanism to protect your collection. If you have a wooden or metal door, a simple deadbolt lock is very effective. Make sure the bolt is thick, and dense and goes deep into the wall. For glass doors, you don’t really have this option. Instead, rely on keypad locking mechanisms that use vacuum to keep the door sealed.
Unlike deadbolt mechanisms, keypad locking systems are more flexible since they allow you to change the combination in case of passkey leaks. For a more foolproof solution, you can invest in biometric locks that use your fingerprint as a key. You can add the fingerprints of everyone at your residence to provide them with seamless access. No need to carry keys or remember a combination.
3. Protect The Windows
If your cellar has windows, make sure to seal them properly as well. Replace regular glass with shatterproof laminated glass and consider security bars outside to prevent break-ins. Windows also allow in natural light, a wine-altering element. They should have a UV coating that shields the bottles in your custom wine cellar racks from direct sunlight exposure.
4. Surveillance System
Cameras inside the sacred cellar? Yes, it’s out of the question and should be that way. You don’t want to be monitored 24×7 by an AI and your guests won’t feel comfortable either. However, there’s no harm in installing a surveillance system right outside the cellar, covering all the entry and exit points. This allows you to keep an eye out for unauthorized entry and provides law enforcement evidence to catch the perpetrators in case something goes wrong.
Modern surveillance systems don’t need to act 24×7 either. They can activate with motion sensors or seismic sensors as soon as there’s any activity near the entry and exit points. AI-powered systems can even identify suspicious activity and inform you along with local law enforcement to stop the crime in its tracks.
5. Track Your Inventory Like A Hawk
Whether you have expensive vintages like the 1947 Cheval Blanc or cult hits like Screaming Eagle, inventory management helps you store and age these wines properly and keep track of them. You can label the bottles, sort out the cabinets, and do everything manually, or use a wine cellar tracking app. While tracking apps are more convenient, do whatever seems more intuitive to you. Tracking brings your attention to any missing bottles and helps with insurance claims.
Despite your best efforts, your wine cellar is always at risk. For instance, expensive vintages can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and provide strong incentives for armed break-ins. On the other hand, earthquakes and other natural disasters are very unpredictable. Consider comprehensive cellar insurance as the final measure to recover your losses in the worst-case scenario.
Summary: Worried about your prized vintages? Discover 5 foolproof ways to secure your wine cellar and keep your collection safe.
Link to Originality Scan: https://app.originality.ai/share/5c4u7mgh2613xas8