should wine bottles be stored at an angle
Storage of wine
Most wine racks are designed to allow a wine to be stored on its side . The thinking behind this orientation is that the cork is more likely to stay moist and not dry out if it is kept in constant contact with the wine . Some wineries package their wines upside down in the box for much the same reason . Research in the late 1990s suggested that the ideal orientation for wine bottles is at a slight angle , rather than completely horizontal . This allows the cork to maintain partial contact with the wine in order to stay damp but also keeps the air bubble formed by a wine 's ullage at the top rather than in the middle of the bottle if the wine is lying on its side . Keeping the ullage near the top , it has been argued , allows for a slower and more gradual oxidation and maturation process . This is because the pressure of the air bubble that is the ullage space rises and falls depending on temperature fluctuation . When exposed to higher temperatures the bubble 's pressure increases ( becomes positive relative to the air outside of the bottle ) , and if the wine is tilted at an angle , this compressed gas will diffuse through the cork and not harm the wine . When the temperature falls the process reverses . If the wine is completely on its side then this action will eject some wine through the cork . Through this `` breathing '' which can result from variations in temperature , oxygen may be repeatedly introduced into the bottle and as a result can react with the wine . An appropriate and constant temperature is therefore preferred . Additionally , oxidation will occur more rapidly at higher temperatures and gases dissolve into liquids faster the lower the temperature . Champagne 
Most wine racks are designed to allow a wine to be stored on its side . The thinking behind this orientation is that the cork is more likely to stay moist and not dry out if it is kept in constant contact with the wine . Some wineries package their wines upside down in the box for much the same reason . Research in the late 1990s suggested that the ideal orientation for wine bottles is at a slight angle , rather than completely horizontal . This allows the cork to maintain partial contact with the wine in order to stay damp but also keeps the air bubble formed by a wine 's ullage at the top rather than in the middle of the bottle if the wine is lying on its side . Keeping the ullage near the top , it has been argued , allows for a slower and more gradual oxidation and maturation process . This is because the pressure of the air bubble that is the ullage space rises and falls depending on temperature fluctuation . When exposed to higher temperatures the bubble 's pressure increases ( becomes positive relative to the air outside of the bottle ) , and if the wine is tilted at an angle , this compressed gas will diffuse through the cork and not harm the wine . When the temperature falls the process reverses . If the wine is completely on its side then this action will eject some wine through the cork . Through this `` breathing '' which can result from variations in temperature , oxygen may be repeatedly introduced into the bottle and as a result can react with the wine . An appropriate and constant temperature is therefore preferred . Additionally , oxidation will occur more rapidly at higher temperatures and gases dissolve into liquids faster the lower the temperature . Champagne
Research in the late 1990s suggested that the ideal orientation for wine bottles is at a slight angle , rather than completely horizontal . When exposed to higher temperatures the bubble 's pressure increases ( becomes positive relative to the air outside of the bottle ) , and if the wine is tilted at an angle , this compressed gas will diffuse through the cork and not harm the wine .
Research in the late 1990s suggested that the ideal orientation for wine bottles is at a slight angle , rather than completely horizontal . When exposed to higher temperatures the bubble 's pressure increases ( becomes positive relative to the air outside of the bottle ) , and if the wine is tilted at an angle , this compressed gas will diffuse through the cork and not harm the wine .