We asked Wine Pro if open red wine lasts longer in the fridge
Counter top or fridge? When it comes to storing open red wine, that’s the point. If you’re hoping to keep your best bottles in tip-top shape until the last sip, you’ll want an answer, and we’ve got one from someone who knows. For those of us who view Dry January as nothing more than a spectator sport, the information is as useful now as it is in the season of premium wine consumption.
No open wine lasts more than a week without going rancid, but if you learn the best way to store red, white and sparkling wine, you can extend the life of an open bottle by a few days.
To find out exactly what those ways are, I asked a wine educator Rachel Thralls for advice on storing open wine, including whether open red wine should be refrigerated or now.
To that matter, Trallis tells us that he directly says “Yes.” The cool temperatures of your refrigerator keep open wine fresh for longer, up to five days. Just make sure you let it come back to proper serving temperature before drinking.”
Here’s how to store any type of open wine so you can enjoy every sip. For more, learn how to buy great wine on a budget or how to stop making these five mistakes when storing and serving wine.
How long does wine last and how to store it properly
Shortly after removing the cork, all the wine begins to spoil.
After any bottle of wine is left open for more than the few hours it takes to breathe and decant, its quality begins to deteriorate. That’s why it’s extremely important to take some steps to preserve its longevity if you want to drink the remaining liquid before it essentially turns to vinegar.
According to Thralls, each type of wine requires different storage methods. Here’s a breakdown of the most common.
Sparkling wine
Days it will last in the fridge: 1-3
Sparkling wine has the shortest shelf life of all wines.
“Sparkling wines lose their crown quickly after opening,” emphasizes Thralls. “A traditional method sparkling wine like cava or champagne (which have more atmospheres of pressure, aka more bubbles) will last a bit longer than a tank method sparkling wine like prosecco.”
Invest in a cork (sparkling wine stopper) for best results. If you really want to keep your champagne, Coravin makes a boogie preservation of sparkling wine system that pumps carbon dioxide back into the bottle to extend the life of the effervescent fridge for weeks.
Light white, sweet white and rosé wines
Days it will last in the fridge: 4-5
Uncorked light white wines can last up to five days if kept cold.
“Most light white and rosé wines will be drinkable for up to a week when stored in your refrigerator with a cork,” advises Thralls. “You’ll notice that the flavor will change subtly after the first day as the wine oxidizes. The overall fruitiness of the wine will often diminish, becoming less vibrant.”
Full white wine
Days it will last in the fridge: 2-3
Fuller-bodied whites tend to lose their sharpness a little faster.
“Dense white wines like oaked Chardonnay and Viognier tend to oxidize faster because they see more oxygen during the aging process before bottling,” Thralls explains. “Make sure you always keep them capped and in the fridge. If you drink a lot of this type of wine, it’s a really smart idea to also invest in vacuum caps.”
Red wine
Days it will last in the fridge: 3-5
Opened red wine should be refrigerated to preserve and removed about 10 minutes before serving.
“Red wines can be stored in a cool, dark place with a cork or in your refrigerator or wine cooler,” says Thralls. “The more tannin and acidity a red wine has, the longer it lasts after opening.”
For example, a wine with lower tannins such as Pinot Noir will not last as long as a deep red such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
“Some wines will even improve after the first day of opening,” adds Thralls. “If you don’t have a wine refrigerator, your regular refrigerator is better than letting the wine sit in a 70-degree room. Just take the red wine out about 10 minutes before you want a glass so it warms up a bit. The red wine will also open in the glass.”
Tips for storing wine
How and where you store wine is important, both before and after opening.
While the aforementioned guidelines are useful for any wine novice, Thralls offers a few general rules to consider with every bottle opened.
1. Invest in a wine container. “They work very well to preserve wine after it has been opened. You can use the plug and push it back or try (product like) Repourwhich removes the oxygen from the bottle.” Strong wine systems are more expensive, but these high-tech devices actually refill the bottle with argon gas, extending the life of red and white wine by up to a month.
2. Store any opened wine in the refrigerator. “Or a wine fridge if you have one,” Thralls says. “This cold storage will slow down any development of the wine, keeping it fresh. The ideal temperature in a wine cellar or refrigerator is 55 degrees Fahrenheit.”
3. Keep wine away from direct sunlight or heat sources. “This includes above the refrigerator or oven. It will ‘cook’ and spoil the aroma and taste.”
Ideal serving temperatures for serving wine
A Hyperchiller can help you chill warm wine to the right serving temperature.
Arguably, wine temperature is a matter of personal preference, there are optimal temperatures that sommeliers and wine professionals strive for.
In general, wine actually tastes better served slightly chilled, which applies to both whites and reds. this A device for $21 it can chill warm wine (or any other liquid) in seconds.
“The same ideology of experiencing coffees, teas and sparkling waters at different temperatures applies to wine,” says Thralls, revealing that the more delicate floral aromas in fine wines can actually be suppressed at temperatures that are too cold or burn off too quickly , when the wine is too warm.
“If you drink affordable wine most of the time, serving it slightly chilled will mask most of the ‘bad’ flavors,” she says. “A wine above 70 degrees Fahrenheit will begin to smell more alcoholic due to the increased evaporation of ethanol that occurs as the temperature rises.”
Thralls notes that this is a good reason not to fill your wine glass to the brim. “A typical serving of wine is about 5 ounces, and a bottle of wine contains just over 25 ounces, so you should get about five glasses of wine per bottle,” she explains. “The extra space in a typical wine glass is designed to hold aromas as you swirl and taste your wine, so try to save some space.”
The ideal serving temperatures for every type of wine
Yes, there is an ideal temperature for serving any type of wine.
Champagne and sparkling wines
Affordable sparkling wines taste best served at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have a high-end, more expensive champagne or sparkling wine, serve at ideal light white wine temperatures that are slightly higher.
Light white wines and rosettes
Examples of light white wines are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. These wines are best served between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, slightly cooler than heavier white wines. Rosé wines also taste best and retain their crispness and acidity at these temperatures.
Heavy whites and light reds
Heavier white wines, such as Chardonnay, taste good at a range of temperatures depending on one’s personal preference, from 48 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit. Oak-aged white fruit also tastes better when served slightly warmer. Lighter red wines like Pinot Noir taste better on this cooler end of the spectrum.
Medium bodied reds
Medium-bodied reds, such as Merlot, are best served right around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is also the ideal cellar temperature. You can take your bottle straight from your cellar and pour a glass. Note that wines tend to warm in the glass as well.
Dense and mature reds
Full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Zinfandel are best served between 59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. But isn’t it too cold for red wine? The wine will taste much better chilled and, as Thrall mentioned, the glass will also warm the wine.
Any way you spin it, good wine is what doesn’t end up in the drain. If you need to drink and taste the rest of your bottle for future sipping pleasure, take all these tips into consideration and you’ll never waste money (and precious alcohol) again. cheers
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