An unopened bottle of wine possesses the potential to age gracefully over the years, often improving in quality with time. However, the moment you uncork that bottle, you initiate a countdown on the wine’s shelf life. While it’s no concern when you’re sharing a cherished cabernet sauvignon with friends at a dinner party or savoring a refreshing pinot grigio during a picnic where the entire bottle will be enjoyed, the challenge arises when you desire just a glass or two. It can feel like a waste or a compromise in taste if you can’t finish it immediately. Fortunately, with the right knowledge, you can easily extend the life of your opened wine.
Before delving into the strategies for preserving opened wine, it’s essential to grasp why this elixir deteriorates swiftly once exposed. Wine originates from fermented grape juice, a process involving yeast that converts the juice’s sugars into ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide, which gives the wine its effervescence. Inside an unopened bottle, the wine can endure for an extended period. However, once the cork is removed, the liquid becomes vulnerable to oxygen, setting in motion a process known as “oxidation.” This oxidation can accelerate the wine’s spoilage.
Exposure to oxygen post-uncorking can turn wine bitter, reduce the concentration of antioxidants, diminish certain volatile compounds responsible for the wine’s aroma, and alter its color. Even if you attempt to reseal the bottle with the cork, the wine’s degradation may persist at an accelerated pace.
To mitigate the impact of oxidation and prolong the enjoyment of your favorite wine, we’ve consulted experts and sommeliers to compile their top recommendations and insider techniques.
1) Store it in the refrigerator
In an ideal world, having a dedicated cold, dark wine cellar to store your cherished bottles would be the ultimate luxury. However, for most people, the refrigerator becomes the next best option. As previously mentioned, once a bottle of wine is opened, it begins to deteriorate due to oxidation. But maintaining it at cooler temperatures is crucial, as Laura Raimondi, the owner of La Sicilyana Wines, points out that “warmer temperatures can accelerate oxidation.”
According to Joe Mele, co-host of The Wine Pair Podcast, “What the refrigerator does is slow down the inevitable deterioration of the wine once it has been opened.” He emphasizes that temperature plays a pivotal role.
When it comes to storing both reds and whites in the fridge, your first step should be to reseal the bottle with its original cork. If the cork is damaged or cannot be reinserted, a rubber cork can serve as a suitable replacement.
The general guideline for the refrigerator’s storage life for opened wine is “around 3 days for reds and about 5 days for whites,” according to Matt Delgado, Food + Beverage Director and sommelier at Panzano, an Italian restaurant in Northern Colorado. Mele further notes that while most red and white wines will remain palatable for 3 to 5 days in the fridge, “sweet wines are the exception and should stay good for several weeks.”
Of course, this is a straightforward task for bottles meant to be served chilled, such as white or rosé wines. But what about a fine red wine? You probably don’t want to serve your best pinot noir cold. Fortunately, as Audrey Wayne, a level III sommelier known as The Single Somm on TikTok, advises, all you need to do is “remove the red wine from the fridge at least 20 minutes before you plan to pour it again.”
2) Use plastic wrap for sparkling wine
The next piece of advice may not sound particularly sophisticated, but it can significantly extend the life of your opened bottle of wine. Joe Mele suggests a practical approach, especially for sparkling bottles: “Since the cork won’t fit back in, use plastic wrap secured with a rubber band.” This simple method effectively preserves the effervescence and prevents oxygen from infiltrating the bottle. Remarkably, this technique isn’t limited to sparkling wine; it can work wonders for red or white wines if you happen to misplace the original cork.
Mele goes a step further, pointing out that this makeshift approach can actually outperform the original cork. He explains, “It’s particularly effective because cork is quite porous.”
3) Transfer leftover wine to a smaller bottle
If you find yourself with only a small portion of wine left, wine experts recommend a clever solution: transferring the remainder to a smaller bottle or container. This extra step may require a bit of forethought and preparation, ensuring that you have a spare receptacle available, but it can make a world of difference when you want to preserve the remaining wine for later enjoyment.
Laura Raimondi emphasizes the effectiveness of this technique, saying, “If you’ve only consumed a portion of the wine from the original bottle, it’s worth the effort to transfer the remaining wine into a smaller container.” Half bottles or even smaller vessels prove ideal for this purpose, as they minimize the air space above the wine, thereby reducing exposure to oxygen and preserving the wine’s quality. In a pinch, a glass jar can also serve as a suitable alternative.
Once you’ve successfully transferred the leftover wine to a smaller bottle or container, you can confidently place it in the refrigerator for safekeeping. This straightforward method ensures that your wine remains in top condition for future enjoyment.
4) Invest in a wine pump
If you’d rather not go through the process of transferring your wine to a different bottle, Audrey Wayne offers an alternative solution: utilizing a wine pump to remove excess oxygen from the bottle. Wayne recommends this approach as a valuable investment in extending the lifespan of your opened wine, noting that wine pumps can be easily obtained online, at wine shops, or even some grocery stores.
But how does a wine pump work, and why is it effective? Wayne explains, “Oxygen is the culprit behind wine spoilage, so the key is to minimize the contact between oxygen and your wine. When you open a bottle and consume most of its contents, the remaining empty space in the bottle becomes a breeding ground for oxygen, which can hasten the deterioration of your wine.” She goes on to clarify that a wine pump swiftly removes this excess oxygen from the bottle with a few quick pumps, eliminating the need to find a new vessel for your wine. This convenient and efficient method helps preserve the wine’s quality and flavor, ensuring a more enjoyable experience when you return to it later.
5) Get a champagne stopper
For those who savor the effervescent joy of champagne, investing in a champagne stopper can be a game-changer. Once you’ve celebrated with a bottle of bubbly and popped the cork, resealing it with the same cork is not an option. This is where a champagne stopper, designed specifically for sparkling wines, comes into play, serving a dual purpose of preserving the wine’s freshness and effervescence.
Audrey Wayne highlights the unique challenge of sealing champagne bottles, explaining, “You can’t simply use a regular stopper, because the pressure from the bubbles is still present and can push a standard stopper out, potentially causing damage in your kitchen.” Instead, a champagne stopper operates by securely closing onto the top of the bottle, and it actually expands and tightens as the pressure within the bottle increases. This ingenious design prevents the stopper from prematurely popping out due to the pressure of the bubbles.
Laura Raimondi adds that using a champagne stopper and returning the bottle to the fridge is an effective strategy. She notes, “The pressure inside the bottle helps maintain its carbonation, and the cold temperature slows down the oxidation process.” However, sparkling wines, owing to their delicate nature, are best enjoyed within one to two days, even with the use of a champagne stopper.