Fact #52 – What humidity is ideal in the wine cellar?

Wine storage

The humidity in the wine cellar influences the oxidation of the wine and causes it to lose quality.

The experts agree: the optimal humidity in the 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, mould can form and the wine labels could peel off in the worst case».

And what happens if you store the wine at too low a temperature? Well, nothing happens if you preserve the wine bottles from 50%. The problem could arise if the wine is deposited in a room below 50% of humidity. «The wine cork could easily shrink, air enters and damages the wine through oxidation,» says Andy Meyer.

Conclusion

A wine should always be stored under ideal conditions. We therefore recommend equipping the wine cellar with a thermo-hygrometer so that you can keep an eye on the humidity values. WLAN measuring stations are now available so that you don’t always have to go to the cellar. 

If the humidity is too high, we recommend a dehumidifier with active control and measurement of the humidity.

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