How Long Does Red Wine Last After Opening? A Sommelier Explains All

Although wine has been part of human culture for at least 6,000 years, it is an extremely fragile alcoholic beverage. Storing it incorrectly can ruin the bottle, and once opened, things can get even crazier. Once the cork is pulled, a countdown begins until the bottle of wine turns into something that tastes more like vinegar.

The length of time before you can’t drink wine varies for red, white, and sparkling wines, but there are ways to store each type of open bottle of wine to extend its freshness so you can enjoy every ounce of it.

To keep wine fresh for as long as possible, I asked wine educators Rachel Salles Tips for storing open bottles of wine, including whether open bottles of red wine should be placed in the refrigerator or immediately.

“Yes,” she says bluntly. Cooler temperatures help keep wine fresher longer after opening, for up to five days. Just make sure to bring it back to the proper drinking temperature before drinking.

Here’s how to store each type of open bottle of wine so you can savor every sip. For more information, learn how Buy quality wine on a budget or how Don’t make these five mistakes when storing and serving wine.

How long does wine last and how to store it correctly

Once any bottle of wine is opened for more than a few hours to breathe and decant, its quality begins to deteriorate. That’s why it’s crucial to take some steps to preserve its longevity if you want to drink the remaining liquid before it essentially turns into vinegar.

According to Salles, each wine type requires a different storage method. Here are the most common breakdowns.

sparkling wine

Number of days it keeps in the refrigerator: 1-3

“Sparkling wine loses its crowning very quickly after being opened,” Salz emphasizes. “Sparkling wines made using the traditional method, such as Cava or Champagne (which have more pressure, which means more bubbles), have a longer shelf life than sparkling wines made using the can method, such as Prosecco. ”

invest in one cork (Sparkling Wine Stopper) for best results. If you really want to preserve your champagne, Coravin will craft a bougie Sparkling wine preservation The system pumps carbon dioxide back into the bottle to extend the refrigerator life of the effervescent tablets by several weeks.

Light white wine, sweet white wine and rosé wine

Number of days it keeps in the refrigerator: 4-5

“Most pale white and rosé wines can be drunk for up to a week when stored in the refrigerator with a cork,” advises Salz. “You’ll notice that after the first day, the flavor changes subtly as the wine oxidizes. The overall fruity character of the wine often weakens and becomes less vibrant.”

Full-bodied white wine

Number of days it keeps in the refrigerator: 2-3

“Full-bodied white wines, such as oak-aged Chardonnay and Viognier, tend to oxidize faster because they are exposed to more oxygen during the aging process before bottling,” explains Salz. road. “Be sure to always keep them sealed and in the refrigerator. If you drink a lot of this type of wine, invest in Vacuum cover”.

red wine

Number of days it keeps in the refrigerator: 3-5

“Red wine can be stored with a cork in a cool, dark place, or in a wine refrigerator or refrigerator,” Salles says. “The more tannins and acidity a red wine has, the longer it will last once it’s opened.”

For example, wines with lower tannins like Pinot Noir won’t last as long as rich red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon.

“Some wines may even improve after the first day of opening,” adds Salz. “If you don’t have a wine refrigerator, your regular refrigerator is better than leaving the wine in a 70-degree room. Take the red wine out about 10 minutes before you want to drink a glass so the wine warms up a bit. The red wine will also warm up in the glass. Open in cup.

Tips for storing wine

While the above guidelines will be helpful to any wine newbie, Salles recommends considering some general rules with any opened bottle.

1. Invest in a wine saver. “They’re great for preserving wine after it’s been opened. You can use a cork and push it back into place or try [a product such as] repouringthereby removing oxygen from the bottle. Coravin Wine systems are more expensive, but these high-tech devices actually inject argon gas into bottles, extending the shelf life of red and white wines by up to a month.

2. Store opened wine in the refrigerator. “Or a wine refrigerator, if you have one,” Salles said. “This refrigeration will slow down the development of the wine and preserve its freshness. The ideal cellar or wine refrigerator temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit.”

3. Keep wine away from direct sunlight or heat sources. “This includes above the refrigerator or oven. It can be ‘cooked’ and destroy the aroma and flavor.”

The ideal serving temperature for serving wine

One might say that wine temperature comes down to personal preference, with sommeliers and wine professionals alike striving for the optimal temperature.

Generally speaking, wine tastes better when it’s slightly cooler, and this applies to both white and red wines. this $21 device Cools warm wine (or any other liquid) in seconds.

“The concept of experiencing coffee, tea and soda at different temperatures also applies to wine,” Salles said. He revealed that the more delicate floral aromas in fine wines can actually be attenuated at super-cooled temperatures, or in the wine. It disappears quickly after drinking.

“If you drink affordable wine most of the time, a little chilling can mask most of the ‘off’ flavors,” she shares. “Wine at temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit will start to smell richer because more ethanol evaporates as the temperature rises.”

That’s a good reason not to fill your wine glass, Salles points out. “Typical wine is about 5 ounces, and a bottle of wine contains just over 25 ounces, so you should drink about five glasses per bottle,” she explains. “The extra space in a typical wine glass is to preserve the aromas as you shake and smell the wine, so try to save some space.”

The ideal serving temperature for each type of wine

Champagne and sparkling wine

Affordable sparkling wine is best served at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have high-quality, more expensive champagne or sparkling wine, drink it at the ideal light white wine temperature, which is a little warmer.

Light white wine and rosé wine

Examples of light white wines are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. These wines are best served at 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, slightly cooler than stronger white wines. Rosé wine also tastes best at these temperatures and retains its crispness and acidity.

Rich white and light red

Heavier white wines, such as Chardonnay, taste good at a variety of temperatures, depending on personal preference, from 48 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit. White wines that have been aged in oak barrels tend to have more fruity flavors and are served at a slightly warmer temperature. Lighter red wines, such as Pinot Noir, taste better on this cooler end of the spectrum.

medium bodied red wine

Medium-bodied red wines, such as Merlot, are best served around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is also the ideal wine cellar temperature. You can grab the bottle straight from the cellar and pour a glass. Remember, wine also heats up in the glass.

Full-bodied and aged red wine

Full-bodied red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel are best served between 59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. But is that too cold for red wine? The wine tastes much better if it’s cool, and as Sal mentioned, the glass also warms the wine.

No matter how much you stir it, good wine doesn’t end up going down the drain. If you must pour out and taste the remainder of the bottle for future drinking pleasure, consider all of these tips and you’ll never waste money (and precious alcohol) again. cheers.