Longitude is a simple but effective wine preservation system preferred by winemakers worldwide. Using Longitude will keep your wine fresh from one occasion to the next. 

With Longitude consumers can mix and match wines perfectly with food. Start with a white, change to a red and finish with a sweet, knowing that tomorrow and beyond the remaining wine will be in premium condition.

At the winery the uses are numerous: at the cellar door at the end of the day, in the lab while blending and benchmarking, at consumer and trade tastings as well as in the restaurant or bar. All this adds up to savings.

Longitude works by laying a blanket of argon -- a safe, naturally occuring and inert gas -- over the surface of the wine, drastically reducing spoilage caused by oxidation. It is colourless, tasteless and odourless.

When you open a bottle of wine, oxygen in the air immediately starts to react with the contents, beginning a rapid chemical reaction known as oxidisation. The most important method of keeping wine from spoiling is to keep unnecessary oxygen away from it until it's in the glass.

Longitude is the result of three years of research, planning and testing. The secret of our success is the specially designed diffuser, which allows the smooth and gradual flow of argon from the high pressure aerosol can into the bottle.

How to Use Longitude

Insert the extension tube into the bottle until the diffuser is just above the level of the wine. Cover the mouth of the bottle by placing your thumb over 3/4 of the opening. This helps keep any extra air out of the bottle while you use Longitude. Depress the nozzle for about three seconds. (You can use a little more gas for older or expensive wines, or if there is less than half the bottle remaining.

The Magic of Argon

Argon gas occurs naturally in the air we breathe, making up approximately 1% of the atmosphere. It's inert, meaning it is very stable and does not react chemically with other elements such as oxygen (which reacts with almost everything). Argon is therefore safe for use in preserving wine and food as it will not alter what it comes into contact with in any way.

When wine that has been preserved with Longitude is reopened the argon simply mixes back into the atmosphere. A simple and environmentally friendly "chilling and distilling" process is used to produce argon. Air is cooled until it liquefies at -189C, then the oxygen, nitrogen and argon are separated out. Each boils off at a slightly differently temperature.

The Secret of the Diffuser

This unique diffuser on the end of the tube is the secret to Longitude's success. In fact, it's so good we're patenting it around the world. Without the diffuser the high pressure gas in the can forms a turbulent mixture with the air in the bottle--defeating the purpose of the excercise. The diffuser slows down the release of the argon so that it flows gently over the surface of the wine, forming a protective blanket. The argon is cooler and denser than the air in the bottle and, combined with this smooth, laminar flow across the surface, Longitude produces the optimal protective effect.

Tips and Tricks

Keep the air out. Nothing beats the screw cap. It's the best performing closure with Longitude. To keep wine at its best, always replace the screw cap or stopper after pouring. When you visit a winery you will notice the host always replaces the stopper after serving. If you are planning to pour several glasses over a period of time, ensure you place the cork or cap promptly, and use Longitude before storing.

The clean seal provided by a stopper does a better job of sealing a bottle than a used cork. The cork is pourous to begin with, and even moreso after punching a hole through it. A good quality stopper will seal off the air and prevent both oxygen seeping in and the aromatics evaporating away.

Other Great Uses for Longitude

Longitude is also perfect for the preservation of ports, cognacs, dessert wines, food and fruit. In fact, any substance that is affected by oxidisation can be stored in a sealed container and preserved with Longitude.

Without protection from the air a plate of freshly sliced fruit, such as pears, will rapidly discolour. Cover with clingwrap and protect with Longitude. You will be amazed.

12 cannisters per box.