Argon Gas: Coravin’s Choice For Wine Preservation, But Why?
Coravin is an advanced wine preservation device that allows wine drinkers around the world to diversify their wine-drinking experience. Instead of pulling out the cork, it utilizes a patented Coravin needle that enables users to access the wine inside while blocking oxygen from entering the bottle.
The Coravin wine system uses argon gas to keep the remaining wine protected. Harmless and effectively prevents oxidation, argon gas helps continue the wine’s natural aging process, even after the bottle is accessed.
By pressing the trigger of your Coravin wine opener while pouring, the bottle is simultaneously pressurized with pure argon gas. Argon preserves the wine inside by preventing oxidation, which causes chemical reactions and wine degradation.
Argon gas is enclosed in a capsule with a proprietary cap that perfectly seals in the Coravin wine systems to avoid gas leakage and ensure accident-free use. Each argon gas capsule can be used to access several wine bottles, and once emptied, it is easily replaceable.
During the development of the Coravin wine system, different types of gasses were tried and tested to determine which of them will have less effect on the wine. Among these gasses are nitrogen, helium, argon, and carbon dioxide mixture. Argon stood out. Here are the reasons why:
Inert substances are chemically non-reactive, which means that they do not cause any chemical reactions when exposed to other substances. Argon is inert. It is odorless, colorless, and unlike oxygen, has no known effect on wine’s color, flavor, or taste. It is no wonder why winemakers use argon gas to preserve wine during bottling.
One main advantage of argon over other gasses is that it is heavier than oxygen. It means that once you pressurize the wine bottle with argon, it will resist the entry of oxygen. Even with the needle inserted through the cork and you are not pouring wine, no oxygen can permeate the bottle.
Carbon dioxide is non-reactive with wine components but it is highly soluble in wine, thus changing the wine’s flavor. Argon, on the other hand, does not dissolve in wine, keeping the wine pristine and unaffected.
Argon gas is non-flammable and non-toxic. It is one of the seven gasses that occur naturally and are present in the air we breathe.
After prolonged experimentation, argon gas has proven itself to be the perfect gas for Coravin’s wine preservation technology. So, to continue savoring that bottle of wine in your own sweet time, always keep a Coravin argon gas capsule in stow. You’ll never know when you’ll need one. Did you find this post helpful? Share your thoughts below.
Does refrigeration affect the Coravin’s argon gas? After using on a chilled bottle of wine is it okay to rechill? Instructions only say keep in temp controlled.