Trying to find the best solution for storing opened wine bottles can be frustrating. If you’ve ever opened a bottle of wine though you knew you would only need a splash or maybe just a glass, you know the feeling.
We would like to share some tips that will help you preserve your wine so you can have another glass tomorrow or the following day. We have some of the best ideas for keeping your wine as crisp and flavorful as possible.
You’ll see it’s not as complicated as you might have been led to believe.
When does wine go bad?
Once the bottle has been opened, and oxygen hits the wine, the process of oxidation begins, and the wine will taste flat and bitter in a short amount of time without your intervention. All wine will eventually go bad.
Red wine, white or sparkling wine, all of them must be properly stored so that they will remain drinkable for a few days.
We can’t give an exact number of hours or days until your wine will go bad because wines are made in different environments using many different methods. The best thing to do once you’ve opened a bottle is to ensure you re-cork it and refrigerate it right after you pour your first glass.
Things to do once the bottle is open
Although it might be easy to leave an open bottle of wine sitting in the kitchen or on the dinner table until the meal is finished, your wine will last much longer if you get in the habit of adopting the following guidelines:
• Re-cork wine bottle after pouring the wine to prevent oxidation
• Keep the bottle below room temperature, preferably in a fridge
• Store the bottle upright, not on its side
• Avoid taking the wine bottle from a very warm room to a cold room
• If not immediately refrigerated, keep the bottle out of direct sunlight or heat
One device that might be a great and inexpensive investment is a vacuum wine preserver. They are made by some companies and come at several different prices. The vacuum has a special rubber stopper that is placed into the open bottle top. You apply a bit of pressure to that and pump the air out of the bottle.
Why is Refrigeration Important?
As with any other item of food or drink, being placed in a cold refrigerator will help retain the integrity of the wine. The cool air causes the chemical reaction of oxidation to slow down considerably.
Those lower temperatures discourage the growth of the bacteria that will eventually give the wine a vinegary taste. Keeping your opened bottle of wine in the fridge is one of the most important things you can do to keep it fresh.
How long can you keep wine in the fridge?
Have you ever wondered how to store an open bottle of wine? Many people are unsure of the best way to make sure their wine will be enjoyable in a day or two.
Here’s a guide for how long most wines will last if they are refrigerated after they’ve been opened:
• Red Wine 3 – 5 days
• White Wine 3 – 7 days
• Sparkling Wine 1 – 3 days
This may go against what you’ve been told in the past, but one of the most helpful things you can do is refrigerate red wine after opening it. White wines and sparkling wines should also be kept in the fridge to allow the contents to last for a number of days.
All that said, the option for storing opened red wine without refrigeration is possible and preferred by some. It is important to re-cork the bottle and make sure it is stored in a cool room.
Is a wine preserver beneficial?
Another way to keep oxidation from occurring in your bottle is the use of a wine preserver. This is a container that contains medical grade, non-toxic gas (Carbon dioxide, Argon, and Nitrate).
When sprayed into the bottle, it replaces the oxygen and protects your wine from any further oxygen entering the bottle for days. This preservation system will truly keep your wine safe and fresh.
What’s the best way to store Sparkling Wine?
As with the red and white wines, a sparkling wine should also be re-corked and kept in the refrigerator until you want to drink another glass in the next two or three days. The colder temperature will keep the bubbles active.
The cork that came with the bottle will be close to impossible to reinsert. The best way to cork a bottle of sparkling wine is by using a hinged bubble or champagne stopper that can be bought at most big grocery stores for under $5.
It will clamp tightly to the neck of the bottle and with the seal inside it will keep more oxygen out and keep the bubbles in the bottle.
Conclusion
It’s good to know there are so many great and simple options for keeping your excess wine fresh for a few days. Now there is no need to waste those last two or three glasses of wine; you can save them for tomorrow night’s dinner.
These solutions of how to store an open bottle of wine will let you have your favorite wines to drink another day.
• Re-cork immediately after pouring the wine
• Refrigerate the bottle with the left-over wine
• Store wine bottles in an upright position
• If possible, decant the smaller amount of wine into a smaller bottle
If you can remember to follow these steps, you will save a lot of frustration and money because you’ll have learned a few basic solutions for storing opened wine bottles.