Fact #52 – What is the ideal humidity in a wine cellar?
Wine Storage
Why can humidity in a wine cellar affect the quality of the wine?
Experts agree: The optimal humidity in a wine cellar should be between 70 and 80 percent.
But why between 70% and 80% and not a little higher? Our sommelier and wine expert Andy Meyer explains to us "If the humidity is too high, mold can form and, in the worst case, the wine labels could peel off".
And what happens if you store wine at too low temperatures? Well, nothing happens if you store the wine bottles at 50% humidity or above. The problem could arise if the wine is stored in a room with less than 50% humidity. "The wine cork could shrink slightly, allowing air to enter and damage the wine through oxidation," says Andy Meyer.
Conclusion
Wine should always be stored under ideal conditions. We therefore recommend equipping your wine cellar with a thermo-hygrometer so that you can keep an eye on the humidity levels. There are now also Wi-Fi measuring stations so you don't always have to go down to the cellar.
If the humidity is too high, we recommend a dehumidifier with active control and humidity measurement.
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