Storage of wine
Wine is one of the few commercial product that can improve in flavour and value with age, but it can also rapidly deteriorate if kept in inadequate conditions.
In the cellar, wines are stored in corrugated boxes or wooden crates to protect them from direct light.
Should the cork begin to dry out, it can allow oxygen to enter the bottle, filling the ullage space and possibly causing the wine to spoil or oxidize.
Excessive humidity can also pose the risk of damaging wine labels, which may hinder identification or hurt potential resale value.
Wine experts such as Jancis Robinson note that 75% humidity is often cited as ideal but also that there is very little significant research to definitively establish an optimal range.
[2] However, Alexis Lichine contends that low humidity can still be detrimental to premium wine quality due to the risk of the cork drying out.
As a way of maintaining optimal humidity, Lichine recommends spreading half an inch of gravel on the floor of a wine cellar and periodically sprinkling it with some water.
If the wine is exposed to too high a temperature (in excess of 77 °F (25 °C)) for long periods of time, it may be spoiled or become "corked" and develop off-flavors that taste raisiny or stewed.
In general, a wine has a greater potential to develop complexity and a more aromatic bouquet if it is allowed to age slowly in a relatively cool environment.
Professor Cornelius Ough of the University of California, Davis believes that wine can be exposed to temperatures as high as 120 °F (49 °C) for a few hours and not be damaged.
[citation needed] Research in the late 1990s suggested that the ideal orientation for wine bottles is at a slight angle, rather than completely horizontal.
Keeping the ullage near the top, it has been argued, allows for a slower and more gradual oxidation and maturation process.
Other options involve purchases and rentals at off-site wine storage facilities that are specifically designed for the task.
Wine will prematurely develop if stored in an environment that has large temperature variations, particularly if these occur frequently.
