How to Preserve Wine in an Open Bottle

Wine is pretty delicate once you've opened it. These suggestions will help you keep your wine fresh as long as possible.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cannisters Of Preservative Gas
• Champagne Stoppers
• Wine Stoppers

1. Heat is the number one enemy of open wine, as it begins to oxidize. Keep wine in the refrigerator after opening to slow the oxidation process. Recorked wine should last two to three days in the refrigerator.

2. For longer storage, purchase a wine stopper and pump. You can find this invaluable contraption at any serious wine store, home kitchen supply store or on the shopping list.

3. Place the stopper in the top of the wine bottle and pump the air out using the pump. The stopper forms an airtight seal to keep air out indefinitely.

4. Buy a canister of preservative gas for another (though less effective) way to preserve open wine. Spray the gas into the wine bottle and then quickly place the cork back in the bottle. The gas forces the air out of the bottle.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that oxidized wine will not hurt you in any way; it just tastes funny. Oxidized wine is perfect for cooking, so certainly don't pour it out.

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[grapegirls]

on 3/13/2009 Don't let your leftover wine go to waste. Make a quick pasta dish or use the wine to deglaze a pan of whatever is for dinner that night for a quick and tasty pan sauce. Cheers! :)

[canadianwine]

on 11/21/2008 Great how to video demonstrating how a wine pump is used
http://okvine.blip.tv/#1494861

Canada Wine
http://canadawine.wordpress.com

[hedgeland]

on 8/4/2007 Wine pumps do little if anything to preserve wine. The amount of vacuum they can pull is negligible and not nearly enough to offer any protection from oxidation. They are simply a nice marketing gimmick. The suggestion to put any leftover wine in smaller bottles (to reduce any air space) is much more effective.

[NinetyNine]

on 7/13/2007 Check out this web page for an interesting wine preservation test and some conclusions:
http://www.hdlenhancement.com/Main/WinePreservationTest.php

The results confirm some of the suggestions made here.

[NinetyNine]

on 7/13/2007 Check out this page for an interesting test and the results for saving opened wine:
http://www.hdlenhancement.com/Main/WinePreservationTest.php

It confirms some of the suggestions made above.