Direct sunlight or incandescent light can adversely react with phenolic compounds in wine and create wine faults.
Wine cellar temperature and humidity.
In contrast passive wine cellars are not climate controlled and are usually built underground to reduce temperature swings.
The proper humidity level for a wine cellar is between 50 70 when the temperature is a consistent 55 f.
The three factors that have the most pronounced effect on wine in storage are light humidity and temperature.
Wine cellar temperature range and stability.
Light bodied white wines run the greatest risk from light exposure and for that reason they are often packaged in tinted wine.
A relative humidity rh of 50 to 70 is recognized as an adequate wine cellar humidity level with 60 the ideal.
Humidity is a critical yet often overlooked feature in wine cellar design.
You will need to adjust the humidity level as you adjust the temperature.
Most cellar cooling systems and the cooling systems inside wine refrigerators do not create humidity but some will maintain it.
Wine coolers are at their most basic standalone units designed to maintain a consistent temperature sometimes one suitable for serving rather than long term storage whereas a wine cellar is a cabinet or an entire room that stores wine in optimal conditions for long term aging.
Without ideal humidity wine quality may be affected in a number of ways.
Wine should be stored away from direct sunlight hence the wine cellar and at a temperature within the range of 52 to 58 fahrenheit.