Humidity is an indispensable, yet often ignored feature in wine storage design. A relative humidity (RH) of 50% to 70% is standard for an adequate wine storage humidity level, with 60% being the best. In the absence of the perfect humidity, the quality of the wine is likely to be altered in several ways. Such as;
- When the humidity exceeds 70%, it will likely cause degradation and mold of the labels, including the glue.
- When the humidity is not up to 50%, the corks will start to dry out. This results in the loss of liquid in the bottles and possible wine degradation.
Upholding the correct temperature in a cellar will go a long way to preserve your valuable investment until it has gotten to its maximum consumption age. With some wines taking about ten years or more to reach maturity, your wine storage system’s quality and longevity cannot be overemphasized.
TIPS FOR STORING WINE
Problems resulting from humidity issues can be avoided or solved with the right planning.
- One of the proven tips for storing wine in hotter climates is to keep it away from heat. Wine can be referred to as a living organism that breathing, so heat is not perfect for it, because it causes it to age speedily than desired. Temperatures that cause wine heat damage are remarkably low, generally at 80 degrees.
- A minimum of 4mils vapor barrier installation round the entire room. Plastic is preferable, with seams taped and overlapped. The vapor barrier usually installed on the warm side (or outside) of the cellar insulation. This is to avert condensation from forming on the vapor barrier, which will possibly cause mold.
- Only a cooling unit cannot add moisture or humidify cellar air. A humidifier integrated into the cooling system is needed to do so. This helps operates and dispenses the moisture regularly in the re-circulating air. Though, a freestanding humidifier can also be installed in combination with a cooling unit as long as a wall-mounted and high-quality thermostat controls this.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Humidity can cause significant harm to wine. High humidity helps keep moisture in the wine bottle, rather than allowing it to travel into the cork and eventually evaporate. On the other hand, hot temperatures, too cold (or fluctuating much) are reasons for climate control, too much, or a lack of humidity.
