25
5
4
3
2
1
0 0
Oxygen co_ncentra_tio_n (mg/l)
Evolutio_n o_f the o_xygen co_ncentra_tio_n in the bot_tle du_ring aging Co_rk o_r capsule
Time (yea_r) 200 1 6 10
CO2
CO2
O2
O2
I N
TU IT
IO N
C O
N FI
RM ED
B Y
RE SE
AR CH
IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR CORK OAK
Altitude from 100-300 m Rainfall from 400-800 mm per year
Sandy, chalk-free soils with low nitrogen and phosphorus, high potassium and a pH from 4.8 to 7.0
Temperature from -5°C to 40° C
PROPERTIES OF CORK
LIGHTWEIGHT
HERMETIC TO LIQUIDS AND GASES
ELASTIC AND COMPRESSIBLE
GAS EXCHANGE DURING AGEING
For a long time, it was believed that a closed bottle was both watertight and airtight. In fact, exchanges take place between the gases inside and the air outside the bottle. Choosing to age bottles under cork or with metal crown caps will therefore significantly alter the nature of these exchanges.
Oxygen concentration in the bottle during ageing
OXYGEN CONCENTRATION (mg/L)
IME (YEAR)
crown cap
cork
Crown cap: constant exchanges
Cork: less exchanges