How Long Is Red Wine Good for After Opening? We Asked an Expert
Wine is a fickle friend. Improper storage may damage its delicate appearance, and once opened, its condition will become even more unstable. Opened wine does not age like a corked bottle, and once the seal is broken there begins a rather rapid countdown until the wine becomes undrinkable. These countdowns are different for red, white, and sparkling wine, but there are ways to store each type of open bottle of wine to extend its freshness so you can enjoy every ounce.
To keep wine fresh for as long as possible, I asked wine educators Rachel Salles Tips for storing open bottles of wine, including whether open bottles of red wine should be placed in the refrigerator or immediately. “Yes,” she says bluntly. Cooler temperatures help keep wine fresher longer after opening, up to five days. Just make sure to bring it back to the proper drinking temperature before drinking. ”
Here’s how to store each type of open bottle of wine so you can savor every sip.
How long does wine last and how to store it correctly
Soon after the cork is opened, all wine begins to spoil.
Once any bottle of wine is opened for more than a few hours to breathe and decant, its quality begins to deteriorate. That’s why it’s crucial to take some steps to preserve its longevity if you want to drink the remaining liquid before it essentially turns into vinegar.
According to Salles, each wine type requires a different storage method. Here are the most common breakdowns.
sparkling wine
Number of days it keeps in the refrigerator: 1-3
Sparkling wine has the shortest shelf life of all wines.
“Sparkling wine loses its crowning very quickly after being opened,” Salz stresses. “Sparkling wines from the traditional method, such as Cava or Champagne (which have more pressure, which means more bubbles), have a slightly longer shelf life than sparkling wines from the tank method, such as Prosecco. ”
invest in a cork (Sparkling Wine Stopper) for best results. If you really want to preserve your champagne, Coravin will craft a bougie Sparkling wine preservation The system pumps carbon dioxide back into the bottle to extend the refrigerator life of the effervescent tablets by several weeks.
Light white wine, sweet white wine and rosé wine
Number of days it keeps in the refrigerator: 4-5
Uncorked light white wine will keep for up to five days if refrigerated.
“Most pale white and rosé wines are good for up to a week when stored corked in the refrigerator,” advises Sals. “You’ll notice that after the first day, the flavor changes subtly as the wine oxidizes. The overall fruity character of the wine often diminishes and becomes less vibrant.”
Full-bodied white wine
Number of days it keeps in the refrigerator: 2-3
Fuller-bodied white wines tend to lose their charm more quickly.
“Full-bodied white wines, such as oak-aged Chardonnay and Viognier, tend to oxidize faster because they are exposed to more oxygen during the aging process before bottling,” says Sals explained. “Be sure to always keep them sealed and in the refrigerator. If you drink a lot of this type of wine, invest in Vacuum cover“.
red wine
Number of days it keeps in the refrigerator: 3-5
Opened red wine should be stored in the refrigerator and removed about 10 minutes before drinking.
“Red wine can be stored with a cork in a cool, dark place or in a wine refrigerator or refrigerator,” says Salles. “The more tannins and acidity a red wine has, the longer it will last once it’s opened.”
For example, wines with lower tannins, such as Pinot Noir, will not last as long as rich red wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
“Some wines even improve after the first day of opening,” adds Sals. “If you don’t have a wine refrigerator, your regular refrigerator is better than keeping the wine in a 70-degree room. Take the red wine out about 10 minutes before you want to drink a glass so the wine warms up a bit. The red wine will also warm up in the glass Open in the cup.”
Tips for storing wine
How and where you store your wine is important both before and after it is opened.
While the above guidelines will be helpful to any wine newbie, Salles recommends considering some general rules with any opened bottle.
1. Invest in a wine saver. “They’re great for preserving wine after it’s been opened. You can use a cork and push it back or try (products like this) repouringthereby removing oxygen from the bottle. ” Coravin Wine systems are more expensive, but these high-tech devices actually fill bottles with argon gas, extending the shelf life of red and white wines by up to a month.
2. Store opened wine in the refrigerator. “Or a wine refrigerator, if you have one,” Salles said. “This refrigeration will slow down the development of the wine and preserve its freshness. The ideal cellar or wine refrigerator temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit.”
3. Keep wine away from direct sunlight or heat sources. “This includes above the refrigerator or oven. It can be ‘cooked’ and destroy the aroma and flavor.”
The ideal serving temperature for serving wine
The Hyperchiller can help you cool your warm wine down to the perfect serving temperature.
One might say that wine temperature comes down to personal preference, with sommeliers and wine professionals alike striving for the optimal temperature.
Generally speaking, wine tastes better when it’s slightly cooler, and this applies to both white and red wines. this $21 device Cools warm wine (or any other liquid) in seconds.
“The idea of experiencing coffee, tea and soda at different temperatures also applies to wine,” Salles said. He revealed that the more delicate floral aromas in fine wines can actually be attenuated at super-cooled temperatures, or in the wine. It disappears quickly after drinking. It’s too warm.
“If you drink affordable wine most of the time, a little chilling can mask most ‘off’ flavors,” she shares. “Wine at temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit will start to smell richer because more ethanol evaporates as the temperature increases.”
That’s a good reason not to fill your wine glass, Salles points out. “A typical serving of wine is about 5 ounces, and a bottle of wine contains just over 25 ounces, so you should drink about five glasses of each bottle,” she explains. “The extra space in a typical wine glass is to retain the aromas as you shake and smell the wine, so try to save some space.”
The ideal serving temperature for each type of wine
Yes, every type of wine has an ideal drinking temperature.
Champagne and sparkling wine
Affordable sparkling wine is best served at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have a high-quality, more expensive champagne or sparkling wine, drink it at the ideal light white wine temperature, which is a little warmer.
Light white wine and rosé wine
Examples of light white wines are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. These wines are best served at 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, slightly cooler than stronger white wines. Rosé wine also tastes best at these temperatures and retains its crispness and acidity.
Rich white and light red
Heavier white wines, such as Chardonnay, taste good at a variety of temperatures, depending on personal preference, from 48 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit. White wines that have been aged in oak barrels tend to have more fruity flavors and are served at a slightly warmer temperature. Lighter red wines, such as Pinot Noir, taste better on this cooler end of the spectrum.
medium bodied red wine
Medium-bodied red wines, such as Merlot, are best served around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is also the ideal wine cellar temperature. You can grab the bottle straight from the cellar and pour a glass. Remember, wine also heats up in the glass.
Full-bodied, aged red wine
Full-bodied red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel are best served between 59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. But is that too cold for red wine? Wine tastes better when it’s chilled, and as Sal mentioned, the glass also warms the wine.
No matter how much you stir it, good wine doesn’t end up going down the drain. If you must decan the remaining wine from the bottle and taste it for future drinking pleasure, consider all of these tips and you’ll never waste money (and precious alcohol) again. cheers.
