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