Wine does not like being disturbed. Wine should not be subjected to shaking or jolting. The older the wine, the more sensitive it is to any jarring. So, this begs the question – what about transporting wine? Wine dealers ship cases of wine via courier or postal service – what does that do to the wine? Does it not get agitated, at least slightly, during transport? Indeed it does! And that is pure stress on the wine. The older the wine, the more delicate it is. A wine that is nearing the end of its storage life can be ruined with one careless jolt. Wine delivered by the dealer is usually young and strong enough to withstand the stresses caused by transport. Nonetheless, transporting wine should not be underestimated. Most experts agree that wine should not be consumed immediately after transport as it can taste unfinished, unrefined, and sour. Storing transported wine in a quiet environment for only a few weeks can work wonders. What does this mean in terms of wine storage? It means, for example, that it is not a good idea to place a wine rack or cooler right next to the tumble dryer (and not just because of the vibrations, but also because of the extremely dry air emitted by the dryer). Cellars in older buildings located near high traffic areas are also not particularly well suited for storing wine. When storing wine in wine refrigerators/coolers, it is important to make sure that the compressor of the unit is in a position that allows its vibrations to be dampened sufficiently, as vibrations must not be allowed to affect the wine. Frequent moving or lifting of older wines should also be avoided. If a bottle has to be moved, keep it in its original position and move it slowly, with a steady hand. Do not turn it or put it down hard unnecessarily. This is particularly important if the wine is to be consumed, as there could be sediment in the wine. Sediment will be on the bottom. Ideally, the bottle is kept tilted upward until it is poured or decanted. Click on the link to go to the 3rd Key Factor of wine storage.