Do you refrigerate red wine after opening?
In this brief guide, we will address the query, “Do you refrigerate red wine after opening?”. We will also discuss the tips to store and use the leftover red wine.
Do you refrigerate red wine after opening?
Yes, you should refrigerate red wine after opening. If the bottle of red wine is opened, then you should not worry about storing it.
Cooler temperatures in the fridge usually slow down the chemical process. If you put a re-opened bottle of red or white wine in the fridge, then the shelf life will be up to five days.
How to store red wine after opening?
You should not worry about storing an opened bottle of red wine in the fridge. If you want to keep the opened red wine fresh for days, you should follow the given tips:
You can reuse the original cork:
The best way to store an opened bottle in the fridge is to plug it in with the original cork. Try to use the original cork that came with the bottle. If you are having a screw cap wine bottle, then this step will be very simple for you.
You can buy a wine bottle with a dedicated wine stopper:
Some brands of wine offer bottles of wine with stoppers. These stoppers are pre-molded. They are moulded to fit the opening of the standard wine bottle. The simplest way to store red wine is to keep these stoppers around.
You can buy wine bottle with a vacuum pump:
Some wine companies offer wine preservation systems. These preservation systems are made to feature slotted rubber corks and vacuum pumps.
You can remove the air from the bottles of wine by using these devices. This process is done to halt the process of oxidation.
You can use argon gas spray:
Argon is known as an inert gas. When you spray argon gas into an opened wine bottle, then it can increase the shelf life of wine without impacting its flavour. Before you are re-corking your wine bottle, you can use a product that is specifically designed for wine to apply a spritz of argon.
You have to keep the cork in place:
In recent years companies have developed a system that you can open red wine bottles without removing the cork.
These types of wine preservation systems are usually used to stick a needle into the cork. This step allows small amounts of wine to escape from tiny openings.
Why does an open red wine go bad?
If the oxygen is present in red wine, then know that the presence of oxygen turns red wine into vinegar. So, to avoid it from turning into vinegar, you have to reduce the amount of oxygen. Oxygen enters the opened red wine bottle.
Tips that are mentioned above are used to increase the shelf life of wine by minimizing the exposure to oxygen. If you have stored your opened red wine bottle properly, then it can last for up to a week.
What things should you avoid when you are storing open red wine?
You should avoid storing it on its side:
If you are going to avoid storing it on its side, then it can increase the surface area.
Try to not store it by a window:
You should avoid storing it by a window because the bottle of red wine is exposed to sunlight. The colour of the wine can be changed.
Do not store above 70 degrees Fahrenheit:
- It will be better to store open red wine in the fridge.
- If you don’t like to buy wine preserving tools, then you can re-bottle the wine into a small container. It will reduce the amount of wine that touches the air.
What are the tips for storing an opened red wine bottle?
You can use the following tips to use leftover red wine.
Aeration:
Aeration is a good thing. If the process of oxidation is greater, then it can change the flavour of the wine. If the wine is exposed to too much air, then it can take the fizz out of your champagne.
To aerate your wine, just pour your wine into a decanter. A decanter should be with a decent surface area.
Try to store wine in a dark and cool place:
As you know the process of oxidation is slow at colder temperatures. If you don’t like to drink cold wine, then take it out from the fridge 1 hour before serving.
Different types of wines have a different shelf life:
- If sparkling wine and light red wine are opened, then they have a shelf life of one to three days after opening.
- If full-bodied white wine is opened, then it has a shelf life of two to three days.
- If light whites and full-bodied reds have opened, then they have a shelf life of up to five days.
If you properly store red wine in the fridge, it can increase its Shelf life.
Other FAQs about Wine that you may be interested in.
Can wine go bad in the fridge?
Can white wine go bad in the fridge?
What does champagne taste like
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have addressed the query, “Do you refrigerate red wine after opening?”. We have also discussed the tips to store and use the leftover red wine.
