Are You Storing Your Open Wine the Right Way?
How long can different types of wine be kept after being opened?
· Sparkling Wines
Once sparkling wines, such as Champagne, Cava and Prosecco, are opened, the time for drinking will be very short. This is because after we pop the cork, the carbon dioxide in the sparkling wine will constantly escape from the liquor, eventually weakening the flavor and making the wine unfit for drinking. Therefore, it is recommended to finish the sparkling wine on the same day the bottle is opened.
· White Wines
How many days white wines can be stored after being opened depends largely on the acidity of the wine. Higher acidity can keep the wine fresh and lively. A low-acid white wine can be stored for 3-4 days, while high-acidity white wines from cool producing areas can be kept for at least 5 days if they're placed in the refrigerator. Classic white wines from cool producing areas include Oregon, Pinot Gris, Fingerlakes, Riesling and so on.
· Red Wines
For opened red wines, the one with high tannin content can be kept for a longer time. Tannin in wines comes from the seeds, stems and skins of grapes. It can resist the oxidation of oxygen and is one of the indispensable factors for aged wine. Red grape varieties with high tannin content include Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Syrah, etc. The red wine brewed by them can be drunk within 4-5 days after being opened. On the contrary, red wines with relatively low tannin, such as Pinot Noir and Merlot, need to be drunk within 3-4 days.
How to prolong the shelf life of opened wines?
1. Cork up the bottle and put it in the refrigerator.
The most convenient and simple storage way is to put the wine in the refrigerator after corking it. Many people put the cork back to the bottle and put the wine on the counter or table, which is not advisable. Only in a low-temperature and closed environment like the refrigerator can the oxidation rate of wine be slowed down.
2. Use a vacuum machine to evacuate oxygen.
Vacuum sealers, a tool for preserving food, are available on the market. It can reduce the oxygen content in the wine bottle by pumping oxygen out of the bottle, so as to slow down the oxidation rate of wine and achieve a longer preservation time.
3. Change big bottles into small bottles to reduce the contact area between wine and oxygen.
It is a very good choice to pour the remaining liquor into a small-capacity container, such as a 375ml wine bottle. This method can reduce the contact area between liquor and oxygen, and slow the oxidation rate down. When in use, take it out to hold the unfinished wine and seal the bottle with a cork. Finally, remember to put the sealed wine in the fridge.
4. Apply rubber corks to keep fresh.
If the original cork is broken, a special wine stopper can be used instead. At present, there are wine stoppers specially used to isolate oxygen on the market, such as rubber corks, which are not too expensive and can be reused. This is a good way to store leftover wine, either.
