If you’re like most adults, you probably reach for a bottle of wine at night to pair with your delicious dinner. But not everyone can drink the whole bottle in one go, which means you need to re-cork it and hope that it tastes as good the next day. No matter what your intent was, we all have had the experience of pouring a glass of wine and noticing that the flavor is just…off.
This begs the question: how long does wine stay fresh? How can we make it last longer? Read on to find out!
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How Long Does Wine Stay Fresh?
There’s no one precise answer to this question. A lot of factors go into how long an opened bottle of wine will stay fresh.
Is it red or white wine? How was the wine aged? Oaked white wine has a lovely flavor, but it will go sour long before a bottle of nice red wine.
As a good rule of thumb, assume that both red, white, and blended wines will go bad within three to five days after opening. If you want to extend that life, be sure to store it in the fridge after opening instead of leaving it on the counter. Sparkling wines and champagne, on the other hand, will only keep for one or two days before going flat and losing all appeal.
How Can I Extend Its Life?
If you’re not a prolific drinker, then you’re probably what you can do to make that bottle last. Wine isn’t cheap! thankfully, there are a couple of things you can do to make your wine taste good a little longer.
Limit Exposure to Air
The number one thing that impacts a wine’s ability to stay fresh is exposure to oxygen. When a bottle is freshly opened, oxygenating the wine can help develop the flavor. Over time, oxygen causes the wine to oxidate and makes the flavor go bad.
Re-cork your bottle as soon as possible, and try to store bottles with more liquid in them.
Want to bump up this tip? Check out some wine accessories that will do things like remove the oxygen from the bottle of wine.
Store It Properly
Sunlight can also cause wine to go bad faster than usual. Store wine in a cool dry place to ensure that your wine tastes good for the rest of the week. Easy peasy, right?
Drink Up!
Nothing ruins a good dinner than a bad glass of wine from a bottle that has previously been opened. If you can, try to finish your bottle of wine the same day you open it. If it’s just you, you can help it stay fresh by limiting exposure to air and sunlight.
Do you want to learn more about everything related to food, wine, and hosting gatherings? You’ve landed in the right spot! Check out the rest of our blog to become an the top chef of your home.