What's the best way to save leftover wine? You’ll never guess! (2024)
Yeah, yeah, we know — according to the cute cartoons on Facebook, "leftover wine" is an oxymoron. But in the real world, not the social-media world, we've all had the need to save half-opened bottles of wine for serving at a later date… and we've all had mixed results in keeping that wine fresh.
But no one should have to waste a bottle of good, or even semi-decent, wine. We tested some of the most frequently used and most affordable wine-storage options, and here's what we found for both red and white wine. The best method might surprise you!
For the low-budget (or lazy, or harried) oenophiles among us, recorking the wine bottle and storing it in the fridge will keep the wine bottle fresh for another day on average. You won't be able to remove air from the bottle by simply recorking it — and air is what causes oxidation, the process that makes wine turn sour. But the cold temperatures will slow down the oxidation process somewhat — and that holds true for red wine as well as white. So don't just store that opened bottle of Cabernet on the countertop; you might as well throw it out if you do.
To eke out a few more days of freshness, you'll be more successful if you use one of a number of fairly inexpensive gadgets. We tested the widely available VacuVin stopper (vacuums air out of the bottle and "corks" it with rubber); the inflatable-balloon-style Air Cork (creates an airtight seal inside the bottle); and the PlatyPreserve (stores the wine in an airtight bag) . All of these toys attempt to stop oxidation by extracting air from the bottle or blocking the air from hitting the wine's surface. And we've found that all of those methods will keep leftover wine fresh for up to three more days—but they work most effectively when the wine is stored in the refrigerator.
Of these three gadgets, the PlatyPreserve gets the slight edge for ease, effectiveness and portability. If you've ever squeezed air out of a Ziploc bag, you'll know how to use this — plus it takes up much less space than a wine bottle.
But the best way to save leftover wine only costs a few bucks more than keeping it in the bottle itself. And you don't need any special gadget — just a mason jar. What's the trick? Simply pour your wine into the jar, filling it as close to the brim as you possibly can, and store it in the fridge. The rings and lids on mason jars make an airtight seal, which works just as well for wine storage as it does for pickling or canning. So, how long will the wine keep? When we've used a mason jar, we've been able to keep our opened wine in near-perfect condition for up to five whole days — even though we very, very rarely need to store it for that long.
And you don't need any special gadget — just a mason jar. What's the trick? Simply pour your wine into the jar, filling it as close to the brim as you possibly can, and store it in the fridge.
A mason jar. Just pour your leftover vino inside, filling it as close to the brim as you possibly can before sealing it well, and voila. Warren says that the smaller container allows room for less oxygen inside while the lid makes for a better airtight seal than a porous cork.
Once you finish up your wine, you can rinse the half bottle and use it again and again — no need for a fancy gadget. Trick #2: If you don't have a half-bottle or small container lying around, a great way to ensure your wine will last at least another day is by placing it in the fridge.
For everyday wine, the how-to for storage is simple. “Ideally, you would put it in a dark space with a bit of humidity to it and that is of a relatively cool temperature,” says Cabrales. Leaving a bottle on the counter at room temperature will do the trick. Even a closet or pantry works.
Answer: Most wines last open for only about 3–5 days before they start to go bad. Of course, this greatly depends on the type of wine! Find out more about this below. Don't worry though, “spoiled” wine is essentially just vinegar, so it's not going to harm you.
The short answer is yes! While plastic bottles can store wine for around 6 months without losing any of its flavours, after this landmark it is likely that your wine will begin oxidising causing your wine to lose much of its flavour and smell as well as overall quality.
According to sommelier and Bon Appétit contributor André Hueston Mack, “All wines that have been opened should be recorked and put back in the refrigerator.” No matter the type of wine, store it in a cool and dark place—this will slow down any breakdown in the wine and limit its exposure to oxygen, heat, and light.
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.
Wine bottles should always be stored either horizontally, at a 45º angle with the cork facing down, or somewhere in between. This will keep the wine in constant contact with the cork ensuring no air gets into the bottle.
Red wine. Red wines will typically be absolutely fine to drink for three to five days after uncorking, so long as they are kept in a cool, dark place. Red wines are a little different from their white and rose counterparts, and their drinkability once opened depends quite a lot on how tannic the wine is.
The tannins act as a natural preservative. On average, an unopened bottle of red wine can last anywhere from 2 to 10 years or more, with lighter reds being on the shorter side. High-quality red wines, like Bordeaux or Barolo, can age well for several decades if stored properly.
Note that vertical bottle storage is more for wines which will be drunk quickly. For longer term storage, it is preferable to keep your wine bottles flat. This allows the cork to be constantly in contact with the wine, meaning it will not dry out or allow air to penetrate…which gives wine a unpleasant corked taste.
A 20-year-old wine should recover its composure within a week or two, while a 30-year-old wine may need up to a month. For a wine over 40 years old, let it sit for four to six weeks–or until it becomes clear. Once you have opened your wine, it should be served as soon as possible.
The best wines can be stored for more than 100 years, but most great wines will reach their peak before they turn 50 years old. Find out if your wine is ready to drink now...
The best way to enjoy your wine fresh is to drink it shortly after you purchase it. However, you can still enjoy unopened wine about 1–5 years after the expiration date, while leftover wine can be enjoyed 1–5 days after it has been opened, depending on the type of wine.
Storing wine can be a lot more complicated than people think, and due to this, a wine box must be used. By using a wine box, the wine is stored horizontally, instead of vertically. This is crucial, especially in the moving and storage phase, to make sure that the wine does not spoil and keeps safe.
Since nobody wants to deal with 10 carboys laying around, stainless steel tanks or oak barrels become the main vessels that wine is stored in for aging. Stainless is often preferred because it is easier to maintain, and can be used for both fermentation and aging.
Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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