So your wine stays perfect even in the cold season
As the temperatures drop, we are again noticing a clear increase in inquiries regarding wine storage in our wine storage facility and also tips on how ambitious wine collectors should best deal with long periods of cold temperatures below 10 degrees outside. We have summarized tips and tricks for you here:
Wine is sensitive - how to store it properly in winter
Wine is a living product whose quality depends heavily on the
storage conditions. Particularly in winter, when temperatures in cellars often drop sharply, a key question arises: what happens to wine chemically during prolonged cold weather? And what is the effect if temperatures only drop below 10 degrees for 1-2 weeks?
The answer is clear: it depends on how long you want to store the wine
. Frequent temperature fluctuations of +/- 5 degrees or more throughout the year are poison for wine. You can find out why this is the case and what measures you can take here.
What happens to wine in the cold?
Wine is a liquid - and like any liquid, it reacts to changes in temperature. changes in temperature. If the temperature drops, the wine contracts. This happens above all at temperatures below 10 °C. This creates a vacuum in the bottle negative pressurewhich pulls the cork slightly inwards. As no closure is completely airtight, this negative pressure oxygen is sucked into the bottle by this negative pressure. Oxygen that gets into the into the wine can have a lasting effect on its quality. However, negative pressure is not the only problem. If temperatures rise, the wine expands the wine expands again and creates slight overpressure. This change in pressure puts additional strain on the cork and ensures increased oxygen ingress.
Oxidation: a gradual process
The main danger of oxygen ingress is oxidation. It changes the wine, makes it taste flat and dull and affects the color. Interestingly, although cold slows down chemical reactions such as oxidation, the problem is only postponed: The oxygen remains in the wine and reacts later when the temperature rises again. This means that even if the wine ages more slowly in winter, the quality can suddenly deteriorate rapidly in spring as soon as warmer temperatures accelerate oxidation.
The problem of oxygen during temperature fluctuations
In the long term, repeated temperature fluctuations pose a considerable risk to your wines. These fluctuations promote the constant change between negative and positive pressure, which allows oxygen to continuously enter the bottle. This is particularly problematic if you want to store your wines for several
years - the long-term effects add up and can have a negative impact on the ageing process.
Another problem: tartaric acid crystals. At low temperatures, tartaric acid can dissolve from the wine and crystallize. Although these so-called "tartaric stones" are harmless to health,
they can slightly change the taste and impair the appearance -
especially with white wines.
How can you bridge short cold spells?
Even if long-term fluctuations are problematic, short-term cold spells can be survived with the right measures. Here are some tips to protect your wine:
- Insulation:
Styrofoam boxes or insulating mats help to mitigate temperature fluctuations. Such boxes are inexpensive and available in many DIY stores. - Relocation:
Temporarily move your bottles to a warmer room during extremely cold spells, such as a technical room or a friend's cellar. Professional storage services - such as WineWallet - also offer optimal storage conditions. - Frost monitors
or heaters: These devices ensure that the temperature in the
cellar does not fall below critical levels. They are equipped with thermostats
that switch off automatically when the temperature remains stable. - Wine refrigerator:
A wine refrigerator is an ideal solution for short-term collections. These appliances offer optimal conditions, but are more expensive and require more space.
Conclusion
Measures against cold and fluctuations often involve a lot of effort: Insulation, heating devices or the relocation of the wine collection require planning and care.
In the long term, it is worth considering professional storage or the purchase of a wine refrigerator. Both options guarantee constant conditions and ensure that you can enjoy your wines in top quality. Cheers!
