What is wine bottle shock or bottle sickness?

You’ve probably heard that through a journey from the winery to your address (or restaurant and bars) wine experiences a bottle shock. It that really so and should you let your wines calm down from the journey?

There is no scientific explanation (yet) but when we think about the journey that wine takes to reach your home – we have to admit it can be an exhausting one. Here at the wine & more, we deliver wines carefully wrapped and placed in boxes that will ensure safe travels, but the bottle will get shaken and under temperatures, and that is something we, unfortunately, cannot control.

You can expect your bottles of wine being exposed to heat or cold and being moved around a lot during the transportation. Younger wines can handle the stress more effectively than the older, more sensitive bottles.

When does bottle shock or bottle sickness occur?

The term is used right after bottling the wines and after wines are being shaken and disturbed during the travel. Remember your bottle of wine, especially when older, is really gentle and sensitive. Just like us, after traveling we need some time to rest and get tougher.

How can you tell if your wine experienced a shock?

The flavours of the wine can be muted or disjointed. If you leave your bottle to rest a few days after the travel, the aromas and flavours will come to life and harmony We suggest always leaving the bottle to rest a few days before opening it.