Storing Open Red Wines | Kennards Self Storage (2024)

Why Open Red Wine Goes Bad

Oxygen turns red wine into vinegar. Thus the key is to reduce the amount of oxygen touching the surface when storing open red wine. There are a few methods used to prolong shelf life, all based on minimizing exposure to oxygen either by replacing or removing the oxygen or reducing the surface area of the wine. With the necessary TLC some red wines can be stored open for up to a week.


Basics After Opening

Re-cork the wine after every glass pour. Keep the open wine bottle out of light and stored under room temperature. In most cases a refrigerator goes a long way to keeping wine fresh longer; even red wines. When stored at colder temperatures the chemical processes slow down, including the process of oxidation that takes place when wine is exposed to oxygen. Wine stored by cork inside the fridge will stay relatively fresh for up to 3-5 days. This is a good start, but I think we can do better!


Freshness Tips

• For best results, store the wine upright to minimize surface area exposed to oxygen.

• Prevent dramatic temperature changes which can damage your wine, such as quickly going from cold to hot.

• You can warm up a red wine bottle in luke warm water. Be careful not to use hot water, it should only be slightly warmer than room temperature.

What to Avoid When Storing Open Red Wine

• Don’t store open wine on its side – it increases the surface area exposed to oxygen

• Don’t store open wine by a window – because of sun exposure and discoloration

If you don’t want to buy any wine preserving tools, consider rebottling the wine in a smaller container so that the amount of wine that touches air is reduced.


Which Red Wines Go Bad The Quickest

• Pinot Noir is one of the most sensitive red wines when exposed to air.

• Old wine over 8-10 years – Once we drank a 10 year old pinot noir that went bad in 4 hours! PS Shame on you for not finishing a 10 year old bottle!

• Organic wine or sulfite-free wine are typically more fragile.

• Light colored red wine varietals including Grenache, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Nebbiolo


Buy an Affordable Wine Preserver

There are a few wine preservation systems available. Most of them don’t work that well, some do more harm than good, and others are just blatant rip-offs. I’ve narrowed it down to two fundamental types: the vacuum pump wine preservation and inert wine gas preservation. Before jumping into which to buy, it’s important to disclose the controversy on vacuum pumps.

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Storing Open Red Wines | Kennards Self Storage (2024)

FAQs

Storing Open Red Wines | Kennards Self Storage? ›

Basics After Opening

How should red wine be stored after opening? ›

But you shouldn't be afraid of storing opened red wine in the fridge. Cooler temperatures slow down chemical processes, including oxidation. A re-closed bottle of red or white wine in the fridge can stay relatively fresh for up to five days.

What are the storage conditions for red wine? ›

As a general rule of thumb, wine should be stored around 11-14˚c (52-57°F). Wine storage temperatures should never go over 24˚c as otherwise, wines begin to oxidise, which negatively affects the wine.

What is the storage requirement for wine? ›

Traditionally, wine is stored at cellar temperatures between 10 and 16°C (50 to 60°F), and our empirical expectations of a properly aged wine are based on this temperature range.

How long before opened red wine goes bad? ›

Generally, an opened bottle of red wine can last for up to 5 days if stored properly in a cool and dark place with a wine stopper or cork in place to prevent excess oxygen from getting in. For white wine, it can last for up to 3 days under the same storage conditions.

What happens if you don t refrigerate red wine after opening? ›

If wine is not refrigerated after opening, it will come into contact with air and oxidize. Will that spoil the wine? Malik says yes, wine will taste stale. "Red wines can be kept on the counter, but cork the bottle," Malik says.

What is the best storage for red wine? ›

The optimum storage temperature for any wine is 55°F (~13°C), but you can safely store wine long-term in a range between about 45°F (~7°C) to 65°F (~18°C) if there is not a large change in temperature each day.

What happens if you store red wine at room temperature? ›

Store your wine bottles at 45 to 65 degrees in a 50% to 80% humidity range. The sweet spot is 55 degrees and 70% humidity. A temperature any higher than 65 degrees will cause your bottles to spoil, whereas a temperature any lower than 45 degrees will dry out the cork and allow air to creep in.

How to tell if red wine is bad? ›

First, the fruity aromas disappear, then its flavors turn dull and flat, with a sharp or bitter edge, and the color changes. White wines darken and turn brownish; reds get lighter and browner. Soon, a wine that used to smell like apples or cherries may smell like vinegar or cider.

How to preserve wine after opening without a cork? ›

If you don't have a cork or wine pump on hand, you can use a reusable rubber stopper to reseal your wine. Simply clean the inside of the bottle neck with a wine brush or clean cloth. Then, wet the rubber stopper and insert it into the bottle. The snug fit will create a seal to keep oxygen out and your wine fresh.

How long should red wine sit after opening? ›

Zealously swirl the wine and let it rest for 20 minutes in the wine glass. This is sufficient time to open up any tannic red wine. If you plan on drinking more than one glass, pour the wine into a decanter and let it breathe for roughly 2 hours. The longer aeration period will soften the wine's strong tannin flavour.

What are the three factors in storing wine? ›

The three factors that have the most direct impact on a wine's condition are light, humidity, and temperature. Historically, the storage of wine was handled by wine merchants.

How to store wine without a cellar? ›

You can place your bottles in the cupboard or in the kitchen storage space or in the wardrobe. Dark corners are ideal locations for optimal wine storage . Bottles should be protected from light . UV rays can degrade the taste of wine.

Should red wine be refrigerated? ›

You don't need to refrigerate red wine if it's unopened, but red wine is at its best when stored at a temperature of about 55° F. The ideal temperature for serving red wine is between 60-68° F. That should be cooler than room temperature, the temp most people probably go by when pouring reds.

Does red wine go bad if stored upright? ›

Is Wine Still Good If Stored Upright? For casual drinkers, wine will likely still be good if stored upright over a short period of time, but for those who wish to control the aging process over a longer period of time, it's best to store wine horizontally.

Do you need to refrigerate red wine vinegar after opening? ›

As long as your red wine vinegar is in a glass bottle and tightly closed, it should last indefinitely without any risk of spoilage or foodborne illness. You can store it in a cool, dark place to preserve the quality if you like, but refrigerating it is unnecessary (2).

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