Why are wine bottles stored tilted downward?

Here's why:

* Cork is porous: The cork used to seal wine bottles is a natural material that absorbs moisture.

* Dry cork leads to oxidation: When the cork dries out, it shrinks and allows air to seep into the bottle. This exposure to oxygen causes the wine to oxidize, leading to spoilage and a change in taste.

* Moisture preservation: Storing the bottle tilted downward ensures that the wine inside is constantly in contact with the cork, keeping it moist and preventing it from drying out.

Important note: This applies to wine bottles sealed with traditional cork stoppers. Wine bottles sealed with screw caps do not need to be stored tilted because they are not susceptible to the same drying issues.