Rita Reviews

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Don’t Toss that Red! A Guide to Keeping Wine

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Wine
It is often said that red wine is best enjoyed the day of opening, with open bottles of wine enjoyed later being significantly less flavorful and interesting.

While it is true that many wines suffer over time due to extended exposure to oxygen, oxygen is also the key ingredient to opening up the deeper characteristics of many wines and allowing them to showcase their flavor. In fact, some wines can be enjoyed long after their debut as long as they are properly kept and suitable for storage.

Is There a Limit?

Opening a bottle of wine releases its characteristic flavors and aromas, but wine can become overexposed if left in contact with the open air for too long. Most common types of wine, such as white wine, red wine and roses should be enjoyed within 3 to 5 days of uncorking for the best flavor profile.

After this period, critical aspects of the wine’s nose and flavors will become muted and flat, significantly degrading the character of the wine.

While most wines in hk will tolerate storage for a limited time, a special note must be made for champagne, whose characteristic bubbles dissipate within minutes of opening. Because of the unique character of this bubbly beverage, champagne should be consumed as soon as possible after the cork is removed, as the character of a champagne rapidly deteriorates with time. In general, it’s best to pop the cork on a bottle of champagne only when it will be finished in the near future.

Fortified Wines

Fortified wines have a higher alcoholic content due to the addition of a spirit such as brandy, which affords these wines a much longer shelf life than conventional wines. The additional alcohol in fortified wine effectively acts as a preservative, and a wine such as port will keep for up to four weeks if stored properly in a cool, dark area.

Some highly fortified wines have even longer shelf lives due to increased alcoholic content, and in general the stronger the wine, the longer it lasts.

The best way to preserve an open bottle of wine is in the refrigerator or other cool, dark area with the original cork, but if it is unavailable a tight fitting bottle stopper is an excellent alternative. Look for bottle stoppers with a clicking side tab closure and a tight seal to ensure the freshest flavor when the bottle is reopened. Wine is undeniably best fresh from uncorking, but that doesn’t mean you have to pour any leftovers in the sink at the end of the night.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. My husband and I both enjoy wine. Our family joke is to say, “I had to have a glass tonight because we don’t want it to go bad now that it’s opened.”

  2. I was always told that red wine had to be drank within 2 days. I am not a huge red wine person but I hate to have to throw it out. Thanks for the great info! Now I know I can save it a few more days!

  3. Very informative post! I’ve never been too sure about this and we hardly ever drink a whole bottle in one sitting. I often use leftover wine to cook with.

  4. Our family loves wine, we take wine tours often in our area..I’m a lover of white wine, love your post..very educational,

    • A wine tour sounds like fun. I have only ever been on one but I think I need to put that on my list of things to do this year.

  5. I always store open whites in the fridge with a cork, but I wasn’t sure about reds since they’re mostly served room temp. Thanks for the tips!

  6. We dont drink much wine at alll. I prefer reds because they are sweeter usually. If we do have wine around, whats left I have always ised for cooking, and thats worked out well for us. I might keep it around longer now.

  7. Great tips, Rita! I have recently started becoming a fan of wine (had never had a glass before my 30th birthday…) so I still have quite a bit to learn! I have bought a total of 2 bottles, one white & one red, and I think I prefer the white more than the red, but I haven’t had much of the red so far (on my first glass of it as I’m typing this.)