There have been many studies conducted lately as to the benefits of drinking a glass of wine every day. One of those benefits is the value brought to the cardiovascular system of the wine drinker. Another benefit that has been determined is that the antioxidants in wine help to counter the free radicals that are found in the human body. Some of these studies have merely confirmed what multitudes of wine drinkers have already known to be true.

However, for wine to provide the optimal benefits for health reasons and for the reason of simply enjoying a good glass of wine there should be a proper red wine storage temperature maintained. In addition, there are other factors that should be monitored to ensure the integrity of the wine.

Red Wine Storage Temperature Importance

The proper red wine storage temperature should be between 56 and 58°F or between 12.7 and 15.5°C. The reason that the red wine storage temperature should be at these levels is that it can adversely affect the taste and quality of the stored wine if these temperatures are not maintained.

The rationale for this is based on the fact that wine is derived from organic esters. These organic esters give the taste of wine its unique flavor. Coupled with these organic esters are intricate biochemical compounds. These biochemical compounds are what provide the wine with its distinguished body and character. If there is a rise in the red wine storage temperature, there is a corresponding increase in organic reactions within the bottled wine. Therefore, as these organic reactions increase there is a corresponding detrimental affect on the delicate balance between the esters and the intricate biochemical compounds. These unwanted additional reactions lead to poor tasting wine.

Additional Factors Associated With Red Wine Storage Temperature

In addition to maintaining the proper red wine storage temperature for bottled wine there are other related factors associated with controlling the environment. One of those controls is maintaining the proper level of humidity.

This is because bottled wine is usually sealed within a bottle through the use of a cork. If there is a change in the level of humidity this may adversely affect the seal of the cork. If the seal of the cork is compromised there may be a slow infusion of oxygen into the bottle of wine. This in turn will affect the balance of the wine through a process known as oxidation. If the wine is allowed to oxidize it may cause the wine to become acidic in nature.

Therefore, the proper level of humidity in the storage area is critical. The optimum level of humidity in the area for wine storage should be between 50 and 70%.