# The parts of a cellar project

Lesson 1 of [Wine cellar basics for buyers](https://winecellarbuilders.fyi/academy/wine-cellar-basics-for-buyers.md), 12 minutes.

A wine cellar project has several parts. Different companies often supply different parts. Learn the parts first. Then you can read a quote and see what it leaves out.

## The parts

- **Enclosure**: the walls, floor, ceiling, doors and glass that keep heat and moisture out. WhisperKOOL's construction guide covers ventilation, framing, vapour control, insulation, doors and finishes.
- **Cooling system**: the equipment that removes heat from the room. WhisperKOOL lists self-contained, ductless split, fully ducted and ducted split systems.
- **Racking**: the racks that hold the bottles. Racking sets how the bottles look and how many fit. It is not the enclosure and it is not the cooling system.
- **Cabinet**: a climate-controlled unit for cellaring or serving. EuroCave describes cabinets for both uses.
- **Design**: the drawings and plan that join the parts. Rosehill describes concept drawings, quotation, site measurement and production drawings.
- **Professional storage**: off-site storage and collection care.

## Enclosure and cooling are linked

WhisperKOOL's construction guide treats the enclosure and the cooling as linked decisions. A cooling unit cannot correct a poorly sealed room by itself. A quote for cooling alone does not describe a cellar.

## Roles are not the same

A rack maker, a cooling supplier and a cabinet maker solve different problems. Do not compare a rack brand with a cooling brand. Compare each part with the same kind of part.

## Ask who is responsible

Ask who carries responsibility for the whole system. Ask who does the refrigerant, electrical and structural work. A good answer names a person or a company for each task.

## Sources

- WineCellarBuilders guide, Compare cellar brands by their role. Updated 2026-10-29.
- WineCellarBuilders guide, How to choose a wine cellar builder. Updated 2026-10-29.
- WhisperKOOL, How to Build a Wine Cellar. Accessed 2026-10-29; no publication date shown.
- Rosehill Wine Cellars, Custom Wine Cellar Design and Installation. Accessed 2026-10-29; no publication date shown.
- EuroCave, wine cabinets. Accessed 2026-10-29.

Also on the [web page](https://winecellarbuilders.fyi/academy/wine-cellar-basics-for-buyers/the-parts-of-a-cellar-project).