There are some things about keeping the wine in the right way that many people already know, like the fact that you can keep the red wine on the shelves or in the basement, while the white one should be kept in the fridge for a better taste. However, things are not that simple when it comes to the opened bottles. Also, there is no reason to force yourself into drinking a whole bottle every time you open one just because you don’t know how to keep it in good condition.
Before learning more about the storing of opened ones, keep in mind that keeping the new bottles is the most important. The best way to do that is to keep them in the basement. If you don’t have one, you can get a special freezer for wines. If you are interested in this option, click here. Also, we are going to analyze more about whether is it a good option to keep the open bottle of wine in the fridge.
Source: thespruceeats.com
Contents
What Is the Average Duration?
It depends on the sort and the quality. For example, a typical white or rose can be good for a whole week after you open it. When it comes to full body white, the duration will decrease to five days. Sparkling wines like Prosecco and Champagne have a much shorter duration, and the main reason for that is because of the gas.
The carbon dioxide will disappear, and the taste won’t be the same after that. When it comes to red wine, both light and strong versions have an average duration of three days after being opened. Keep in mind that even though red wine should not be kept in the fridge, you should store it in a dark spot to preserve its taste and quality.
Source: winemag.com
How To Store It in the Right Way?
Like it is the case with new bottles, how you store the opened ones will also affect the taste and quality. Simply leaving the opened one in the fridge is never recommended. Also, relying only on simple bottles with caps is not a good option since most of these wines don’t have a decent quality. You have to understand that the reason why you cannot simply leave the bottle without a cap is due to the oxidation process that will occur and affect the quality of the beverage.
The liquid must be in vacuum condition since oxygen and other things that might get inside like bacteria, dirt, and more will cause it to go bad. Drinking such wine is not only bad for its taste, but it can also cause health issues. There are several methods that you can use to close the bottle after opening it.
If you prefer drinking wine a lot, it is a great idea to buy a special stopper that you can use to close the bottle and create the same conditions that were inside before the opening. Apart from that, you can use the cork after removing it. In most cases, you will have to place it back upside down since one side will get thicker due to high pressure. Also, we have to mention that you should close it each time after pouring a glass of wine so you can keep it fresh for a longer time.
When it comes to storing, the perfect temperature is around 12 degrees Celsius. However, the temperature in fridges is often colder than that. Therefore, you should consider getting a separate wine fridge, especially for the red wine, or taking it to the basement. When it comes to rose and white, you can keep them in slightly colder temperatures as well.
Moreover, you should avoid keeping the bottles under the open light, and that is the case for both opened and new bottles. Another excellent solution is to use a decanter, which is a smaller bottle with a seal where you can preserve the taste and freshness. There are all kinds of models that you can find on the market these days.
Source: unspalsh.com
Notice When It Goes Bad
Drinking wine that is not fresh or that stayed open for a long time can be dangerous for your health. However, some of them are quite delicate, it can be difficult to tell whether the taste should be like that, or if something else is causing it. The three major factors that will help you determine the quality, and are color, taste, and smell. If you notice the smell of vinegar or cardboard, if that is the new bottle, you bought cheap and poor-quality wine, but you can still drink it.
However, you won’t be satisfied with the taste. Also, drinking more of it will most certainly lead to a headache. On the other hand, if you notice the appearance of these aromas after some time, that is an indication that you should throw them away. The same is for color changes. It will start losing the bright red over time and get brighter notes due to the presence of oxygen.
Source: winemag.com
The Bottom Line
As you can see, you don’t have to be an expert in this area to know these things. Learning more about keeping your bottles in the good condition and increasing the duration of opened ones will help you enjoy more in your favorite sorts of wine.
Proper preservation is essential for any type, no matter how good it is, if you don’t seat it after opening and keep it in the right place, it will go bad after a day or two. In the end, keep in mind that there are no methods that will help you to significantly improve the duration, but improving that to a whole week in some cases is still better than having to throw away an almost full bottle of nice wine after only one day.
If you are a real enthusiast, the best investment you can make is to get a good wine fridge along with additional equipment like stoppers and openers that will help you enjoy more.
