What is the Ideal Wine Cellar Humidity?

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If you have been shopping around for wine storage, you have undoubtedly noticed that wine requires specific storage conditions.

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Humidity is an important element because it prevents the cork from drying out. The ideal humidity for wine storage is 50-70%. As wine is stored horizontally on its side, the liquid inside the bottle touches the bottom of the cork, leaving the top of the cork exposed. The cork acts as a seal and only allows a specific amount of oxygen inside the bottle, leading to the wine aging slowly over time, exactly as the winemaker intended. If a cork dries out, the seal is lost, too much oxygen may seep into the bottle, and the wine will age prematurely. If your wine does not have a natural wood cork, you do not have to worry about humidity.

You can use a few important tools to gauge the humidity inside your wine room or a wine cabinet. The first tool is a simple temperature humidity gauge, which includes a thermometer and hygrometer that closely monitors your cellar conditions. The next tool you can install is a wine storage temperature and humidity monitor kit. The monitoring kit is placed inside the cellar or cabinet and will send a text or email alert to notify you if your temperature or humidity falls out of the desired range.

There are multiple ways to maintain humidity inside your wine room or cabinet. First, the space should be air-tight with proper insulation and/or vapor barrier. Next, consider adding a cellar cooling system to your space that can maintain both temperature and humidity. There are a few ways that you can create humidity inside a room. One method is to add a portable humidifier to the cellar and fill it with distilled water. A bowl or bucket filled with water can also be placed inside the space, somewhere where it cannot be tipped or kicked over. Another idea is to add a decorative fountain inside the room. As the fountain runs, water is gradually evaporated into the air, creating humidity.

Storing your wine inside a space that has the optimal environment will ensure your wine tastes delicious once it is uncorked. One of the most important elements of a wine cellar is humidity. There are many tools on the market that can help you monitor your cellar conditions including temperature and hygrometer gauges. Creating and maintaining the humidity can be as simple as placing a bowl of water inside your wine room. Do you need help creating the best cellar conditions for your wine? Contact our experts today with our Contact Form.