How Long Can You Keep Wine After Opening?

Many people enjoy a glass of wine, but often the whole bottle is not completely consumed. With some limitations, however, you can keep wine that has been opened for drinking on another day.

Time Frame

How long? The short answer is three to five days unrefrigerated, or a few more beyond that with refrigeration.

Function of the Cork

The whole purpose of the bottle and cork is to provide a convenient and portable storage container that keeps air away from the wine until it is opened.

Effects of Exposure

Once the cork is removed from the bottle and the wine is exposed to air, it will oxidize very quickly. Remember, wine is made from fruit, and fruit will last only so long. Oxidation produces "off" flavors that can negatively affect the taste of your wine.

Prevention/Solution

The easiest way to keep wine drinkable is simply to reuse the original cork and bottle. There are also devices on the market that either remove the air from the bottle or fill it with inert gases that may increase by a few days the time you can store your wine.

Bottle Size

You can also pour leftover wine into a smaller bottle and cork it. This reduces the amount of air exposed to the wine. Keep an empty half-sized wine bottle handy for just such occasions.

Considerations

In the end, it's best to finish a bottle of wine as quickly as possible. Invite more friends over to enjoy it or use it in cooking. Whatever you do, remember you paid good money for your wine, so don't let it go to waste.

References

• Wine Lover's Page
• Cellar Notes.net
• Wine Spectator