Wine storage: How does light, vibration and odour effect a wines ageing process?

So far this week we have examined the effects of temperature and humidity on wine storage and looked at the optimal conditions in which to store wine to limit their damaging effects.

Today we’re going to examine some of the lesser understood issues that can affect stored wines.
Like temperature and humidity, light, vibrations and odours can all have negative effects on wines that are being stored for a long period of time for various reasons.

Vibration 

It is only recently that the detrimental effect of excessive vibrations on the ageing process of wine has been scientifically proven.

A study by Chung et al (2008) published in the Journal of Food and Composition Analysis found that vibrations increase the speed at which wine undergoes the chemical reactions required in ageing.
This accelerated ageing process was found to result in a decreased quality of wine, meaning that the more vibrations your wine is exposed to in its ageing process the poorer the quality of the end product.

If is for this reason that we ensure the wine storage facilities at Cube Self Storage are insulated to help reduce any vibration to the wine.

Light

Exposure to the UV rays given off by sunlight, or strong incandescent light, will deteriorate the complex organic molecules inside wine disrupting its ageing process and creating potential wine faults.

To negate this our wine storage areas have no exposure to direct sunlight and use minimal natural lighting.

Odour

Even with slight variations in temperature wine will ‘breathe’ during which air is pulled inside the bottle. If wine is stored in an area that is contaminated with odour, this will infiltrate the wine affecting the taste.

For this reason at Cube Self Storage we endeavour to ensure that our storage spaces are free from strong odours.


Unlike temperature, humidity and orientation; the effect of light, vibrations and odours on wine is universal without any exceptions to the rules so which ever wine you wish to store, it would be prudent to pay attention to these factors.

To find out more about our wine storage facility or to enquire about other storage options contact us.

Wine Storage: What is the best humidity for storing wine?

Last week we examined the importance of storing wine at the correct temperature, so today it’s time to talk about humidity.

The risk of low humidity to the ageing of fine wine has been discussed by numerous oenologists and with temperature; humidity is one of the most vital factors to control when ageing fine wines.

Insufficient humidity (below 50%) causes the cork in the wine bottle to dry out and decrease in volume allowing the wine to escape around the cork and evaporate. Air then invades into the space the wine has left causing an uncontrolled oxidisation process

Alternatively, at humidity’s of above 80% the labels on wine bottles are prone to damage, which can have detrimental effects on the value of fine wine.

To prevent these issues from occurring all of our wine storage rooms are kept at humidity 60-70%.

If you would like to learn more about our wine storage options please feel free to contact us.

Wine Storage: What temperature should wine be kept at?

As you may have noticed we have a brand new page on our website, giving you all the information you need to know about our specialist wine storage facility.

On our wine storage page we tell you how specialist storage is crucial for protecting your wine against climatic effects experienced in Hong Kong. However if you are a fledgling wine collector then you may be wondering why it is so crucial that these factors be controlled in the storage of your wine.

Over the next few weeks we will be telling you all you need to know about the best environment in which to store your wine from the optimal temperature to correct bottle orientation, to ensure that when you are ready to open the cork so is your wine and why it is so crucial.

Today we will cover Storage Temperature.
 
Correct storage temperature and avoiding temperature fluctuations is crucial in achieving favourable ageing of wine and preventing degeneration, which all poses a crucial question;

What temperature should wine be kept at?

Although authorities vary slightly on the exact temperatures, consensus agrees that a range of 12-16ᵒC creates the best conditions for the ageing process for the majority of wines.

Research has indicated that the chemical reactions involved in the ageing process of wine double with each 8ᵒC rise in temperature. Below the optimal temperature these chemical reactions required for the ageing process of wine decelerate or stop altogether meaning the wine does not age as desired.

When wine is stored above temperatures of around 16ᵒC the chemical reactions of the ageing process occur too quickly for with wine to properly develop the complexity and aromatic bouquet desired. Temperatures rising above 20ᵒC can result in degeneration or ‘cooking’ of the wine, which much like corked wine spoils the flavour and aromas of the bottle.

Avoiding temperature fluctuations is equally important. When the temperature of the wine rises, the wine inside the bottle expands, increasing the pressure and eventually causing some of the wine to escape and evaporate. When the temperature then decreases the process is reversed, creating a vacuum within the bottle sucking air inside. When this occurs repeatedly the increased amount of oxygen inside the bottle causes oxidation and thus degeneration of the wine.

So there you have it keeping wine at a constant temperature between 12 and 16ᵒC is optimal when storing wine for any length of time.

Of course as with anything there are exceptions to the rule, but we'll cover those in a future post.
If you would like to learn more about our wine storage options, or to get a quote feel free to contact us.

Utilise Self Storage This January

It’s that time of year again folks – the time for New Year’s resolutions. Is one of yours to get fit and healthy this January? Are you planning on investing in some exercise equipment to use at home such as an exercise bike, treadmill or cross-trainer? Well these items are bulky and take up a great deal of room so might we suggest you make room for them by clearing out your spare bedroom.

Although several times a year you might find your spare bedroom utilised by friends and family staying over, we can guarantee that for the majority of the year the room is used for storing items that don’t fit elsewhere in the house. Well this January make the decision to turn this room into a home gym by storing all your spare items in our fully secure self-storage facility.

We offer a range of different sized units which can accommodate beds, desks, chests of drawers and more to leave you with enough room to realise your dream of a home gym. Plus as we offer flexible storage contracts, you can easily move your items out again when you have guests come to stay. Simply swap your home gym equipment for your spare bedroom furniture when required.

To find out more about our self-storage facility and our rates, please contact us for further information.