Protection from Direct Sunlight

Direct sunlight can cause serious damage to wine, and therefore wine should be protected from exposure to sunlight for prolonged periods of time.

The sun generates two types of ultraviolet (UV) rays that reach the earth's surface: UV-A and UV-B, both of which are invisible to the eye. UV-A rays are weaker and can cause skin aging, wrinkles and damage to outdoor plastics and paint. UV-B rays are stronger and can cause skin cancer and cataracts, reduce plant growth and affect the health of wildlife.

Most wine bottles are made from dark-colored glass in order to protect the wine from harmful UV rays. Unfortunately, wine bottles don't block all UV rays. As a result, wine should be stored in dark environments to reduce the threat of premature aging of the wine.