Wine and spirits shops and cellars can be magical places, showcasing rare bottles, providing unique storage, or creating wonderful shopping experiences.

Many parameters play a role in preserving wines and spirits, from controlling temperature and humidity to avoiding excess light. 

Lighting for wines and spirits can be challenging, but it also brings a lot of joy to the customer and client. Each lighting scheme is unique. Of course, there are differences in lighting different spirits, like whiskeys and wines, as there are differences in lighting a high-end retail environment and your private wine collection. However, there are common lighting elements for both environments. 

As a rule, high-quality light fittings with a long life, consistent light colour, and high colour rendering are essential. They will support your lighting scheme, ease maintenance, and make your collection look its best.

What to consider

Wine and spirits are light-sensitive liquids. Red wine, particularly, is best kept in a dark place, so light levels on the bottles need to be carefully considered. The shorter the turnaround time of a bottle in a shop, the higher the light level can be. Permanently stored bottles, when kept as an investment, should receive as little light as possible.

How to light wines and spirits

The product is the key focal point of your lighting scheme. Different products should be lit differently. Warmer colour temperatures bring out the red tones of wine and the amber tones of whiskey, while clear spirits might profit from slightly cooler light, showing the clearness and freshness of the liquid.

Front illumination via downlights or linear shelf lighting provides good label readability. Backlighting the walls or fully backlit shelves allows you to see through the bottle and emphasises the colour of the liquid within. Small point sources like spotlights can create extra sparkle.

Build up the stage

It is important to remember that the bottles are not alone in a room. Provide a well-considered stage for them. Highlighting architectural features of the room, highlights for tables and artwork. All elements combined create a fantastic atmosphere where your spirits and wines shine.