How Long Does Wine Last After Opening?
Fine Wine Blog How Long Does Wine Last After Opening how to preserve wine Wine Tips
A quality wine can last in a cellar for years, even a lifetime, and is an investment in future enjoyment. But what about the bottle that is opened, and cannot be finished in one sitting? It would be a waste to throw it away, especially if it was exceptionally enjoyable.
How Long Does Wine Last After Opening?
Luckily, pretty much any wine can last at least one day uncorked, if stored in a chiller or a refrigerator. Most white wines can last up to 3 days, and red wines for up to 5 days, if kept in a cool and dark place.Some smartly purchased and stored red wines can even last for up to two weeks after opening – keep reading for our best tips on achieving this.
Tell-Tale Signs of Bad Wine
If gone off, both white and red wines will give an unpleasant and unusual smell. Red wines will turn slightly darker, with a brownish tint. White wines may turn more yellow or darker as well.The smell and taste sense should be trusted – if in doubt, you should either throw the wine out or keep it for cooking. Wine can be used for cooking even after a few months from opening.
If you ask us, however, it would be a pity to resort to making Bordeaux pasta – so let’s take a look at how to make the wine last longer after opening!
Maximizing Uncorked Wine Longevity
Several measures can be taken to improve the quality of an opened wine, increasing its lifetime before spoilage.1. Seal Off Air Flow
As soon as you’ve stopped drinking it, re-cork the bottle immediately. Exposure to air begins the deterioration, so the sooner air flow can be stopped, the better.If the cork has unfortunately broken, and another stopper is not available, a bit of plastic wrapping over the top of the bottle (sealed tightly with a rubber band around the neck) is a good secondary option.
Alternatively, wine preservers can be used to ensure open wine is exposed to as little air as possible, which will help it stay fresh for noticeably longer.
2. Keep It Cool
After opening, all wines should be kept cool. For red wines, a wine chiller is the best option. If you don’t have one available, placing the bottle in the refrigerator is sufficient. An hour before serving, take the red wine out so that it can warm to room temperature for drinking.The same stays true for white wines, but they can be served chilled.
3. Choose Your Wine Wisely
If known in advance that a wine will not be finished the night of opening, a conscientious buyer can choose the appropriate wine type for his drinking habits.Full bodied wines (for example this Chateau Talbot, 2009) keep their flavour longer than lighter wines. And, in general, the more tannins and acidity a wine has, the longer it will last open.
Our Final Tip
A white wine usually lasts 1-3 days after opening, while a red wine can last 3-5 days. To maximize the quality and flavour of an opened wine, make sure to re-cork it as soon as possible, and keep it in a cool and dark place. Full bodied, high tannin and acidity wines will last longer than lighter, mellower wines.But please take our final tip at heart and never open a truly rare bottle unless you know you have the time and state of mind to truly enjoy it until the very last drop :)
For more of the best, finest wines in the world today, have a look through our online wine and champagne shop. For any other fine wine related questions or queries, please feel free to contact us – we respond promptly!
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