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Most important is keeping air out. If you don't have, say a bottle cap that seals it, the wine won't last as long.
White wine should be refrigerated and should be fine for at least a few days if kept sealed, but if you're talking 7+ days, it may taste funny - just try some yourself, it won't kill you, it'll just get sour and perhaps vinegary. Wine boxes can last significantly longer as long as there's no air in the bag.
Red wine can be left out, particularly stronger reds, but I refrigerate them if I'm storing an open bottle too. As with white wine, it'll last a little while, perhaps longer than the white, particularly if it has a higher alcohol content. Again, if it has been sitting around for too long, sample a little bit and see if it tastes OK. If it does, you'll be fine. If it doesn't, just dump it.
You're going to find a lot of conflicting information if you ask wine people. Some will swear by the vacuum devices available (I think it's a fine idea, but decanting the wine to a smaller bottle probably works as well). Others will say that replacing the air with nitrogen is the best thing to do, and some will say that that can affect the taste.
I have airtight seals, (Cost $3-7 or so at the supermarket), don't bother decanting anything into smaller bottles, and will keep it in the fridge for a week to ten days - if it's getting towards the end of that, I taste it, and toss it if it's no good.
If I had a fine wine I wanted to keep for as long as possible, I'd decant it in to the smallest bottle possible, and frankly try to drink it before it goes bad.
This isn't scientific, but part of the problem is that different wines will be affected differently, with some lasting significantly longer than others after opening.
I've kept some very hearty red wines at room temperature for more than a few days, and they've tasted fine, but I can't guarantee that it will be the case for everything red.
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If you are just putting the cork back in (or screw cap back on), you only have a few days before the wine starts to oxidize and change flavors.
You can get a vacuum sealer type cork that pumps the air out of the top of the bottle, and this can buy you several weeks before the wine starts to change.
One exception I have found is to be sparkling wines, which the carbon dioxide bubbles seem to protect the wine from changing flavors.
Source(s):
http://www.foodtv.ca/content/entertaining/ContentDetail.aspx?ContentId=2161...
http://www.thewinedoctor.com/advisory/buystoreopenbottles.shtml
http://www.ehow.com/how_1716_preserve-wine-open.html
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mrgunn
When you're ready to drink the rest of the bottle, bring it out of the fridge and allow it to come to your desired drinking temp.
I've never seen this written up, but I've personally been involved in the consumption of thousands of bottles of wine and have done blind tastings of wine stored as described above vs. just left out in a 750ml bottle with a vacuum seal, and this method was the clear winner.
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Source(s):
http://blog.wineenthusiast.com/index.php/2008/04/08/wine-storage-misconcept...
http://blog.wineenthusiast.com/index.php/2008/05/27/from-the-cellar-to-the-...
http://www.wineenthusiast.com/education.asp
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A woman on Chowhound says she has great success with freezing certain wines, and she's tested the technique with over 70 different wines. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/303282#1712273
Source(s):
http://privatepreserve.com
http://www.wineinnovations.com/
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/303282
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After opening, refrigerate corked. If it's a wine that is supposed to be refrigerated, then just drink it out of the refrigerator. If it's a wine that's not supposed to be refrigerated, then try to remember to take it out of the fridge a few hours before you drink it. If you forget, no biggie.
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In terms of the storage, put the cork back in (or use a reusable stopper). Wine will keep for about 3-4 days; you'll be able to taste when it is too old.
Hope that's helpful.
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Many modern wines do not need to be aged over a great period of time; therefore extensive cellars are often unnecessary. Having said this, if you have the time, space and resource to excavate a cellar, your wine will surely benefit. A purpose built cellar is not normally an option for most households and so suitable alternatives must be explored.
Ideal areas for storage include a corner of a garage, garden shed, an unused fireplace or a cupboard that is against an outside wall.
Here are some additional details of how you should store your wine http://www.craft-kits.net/how-to-store-wine.htm
Wherever you choose to store your wine, a few basic criteria are worth keeping in mind.
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Answered Question
M$1
January 03, 2009 07:44 AM
After opening a bottle of wine should you refrigerate it and do you refrigerate all wines?
I'm new to wine and I'm trying different types and I'm curious to know how to properly store it after the bottle is opened if you don't finish it. My parents always refrigerate theirs, but I don't know if that is proper or not and if it applies to all wines. Also, how long is a wine good in the fridge?
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Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| January 03, 2009 08:06 AM |
White wine should be refrigerated and should be fine for at least a few days if kept sealed, but if you're talking 7+ days, it may taste funny - just try some yourself, it won't kill you, it'll just get sour and perhaps vinegary. Wine boxes can last significantly longer as long as there's no air in the bag.
Red wine can be left out, particularly stronger reds, but I refrigerate them if I'm storing an open bottle too. As with white wine, it'll last a little while, perhaps longer than the white, particularly if it has a higher alcohol content. Again, if it has been sitting around for too long, sample a little bit and see if it tastes OK. If it does, you'll be fine. If it doesn't, just dump it.
You're going to find a lot of conflicting information if you ask wine people. Some will swear by the vacuum devices available (I think it's a fine idea, but decanting the wine to a smaller bottle probably works as well). Others will say that replacing the air with nitrogen is the best thing to do, and some will say that that can affect the taste.
I have airtight seals, (Cost $3-7 or so at the supermarket), don't bother decanting anything into smaller bottles, and will keep it in the fridge for a week to ten days - if it's getting towards the end of that, I taste it, and toss it if it's no good.
If I had a fine wine I wanted to keep for as long as possible, I'd decant it in to the smallest bottle possible, and frankly try to drink it before it goes bad.
This isn't scientific, but part of the problem is that different wines will be affected differently, with some lasting significantly longer than others after opening.
I've kept some very hearty red wines at room temperature for more than a few days, and they've tasted fine, but I can't guarantee that it will be the case for everything red.
| Asker's Rating: |
• There were a lot of good answers to this question, but I think this was the best. It covered different types of wines, different methods and personal insight. Thank you!
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Other Answers (9)
January 03, 2009 07:52 AM
Heat makes wine oxidize faster, so refrigerate. Take it out again a few hours before consuming the rest of the wine to get back to room temp if that is how you enjoy your wine. If you are just putting the cork back in (or screw cap back on), you only have a few days before the wine starts to oxidize and change flavors.
You can get a vacuum sealer type cork that pumps the air out of the top of the bottle, and this can buy you several weeks before the wine starts to change.
One exception I have found is to be sparkling wines, which the carbon dioxide bubbles seem to protect the wine from changing flavors.
Source(s):
http://www.foodtv.ca/content/entertaining/ContentDetail.aspx?ContentId=2161...
http://www.thewinedoctor.com/advisory/buystoreopenbottles.shtml
http://www.ehow.com/how_1716_preserve-wine-open.html
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mrgunn
January 03, 2009 08:06 AM
- Fact Refuted
Actually, the vacuum sealers don't really do much. They can't pull or hold enough of a vacuum to make a difference in the available oxygen.
Tip mrgunn for this comment
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January 03, 2009 07:56 AM
Three big enemies of wine are heat, air, and light. So, yes, you can store wine in your fridge, but you should also consider using smaller bottles (e.g., 375ml or splits) to expose the liquid to as little air as possible. When you're ready to drink the rest of the bottle, bring it out of the fridge and allow it to come to your desired drinking temp.
I've never seen this written up, but I've personally been involved in the consumption of thousands of bottles of wine and have done blind tastings of wine stored as described above vs. just left out in a 750ml bottle with a vacuum seal, and this method was the clear winner.
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January 03, 2009 07:58 AM
Wines should typically be kept cooler before and after the bottle is open. After opening, if you don't finish the bottle, you can pressure seal it and store it in the refrigerator or a wine storage unit. Most wines will last 3-5 days after opening them. You will see most blogs, etc, talk about storage temperature and service temperature. I'm attaching some sources for you to review.
Source(s):
http://blog.wineenthusiast.com/index.php/2008/04/08/wine-storage-misconcept...
http://blog.wineenthusiast.com/index.php/2008/05/27/from-the-cellar-to-the-...
http://www.wineenthusiast.com/education.asp
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January 03, 2009 08:20 AM
Yes, you should refrigerate it once opened. Keeping air out is the most important thing, but that's not practical, because it actually takes a considerable vacuum, much more than the little vacuum pump things can generate, to remove enough oxygen to make a difference. Refrigeration slows the oxidation process down and protects the bottle from light. I've used the nitrogen/argon stuff(Private Preserve), and it works pretty well, but chances are you're going to be finishing the bottle in the next couple days, so it doesn't make much difference. Apparently there's a pure argon spray (ReServe) you can use for longer storage. I don't think they stay good for much longer than a couple days. They're drinkable out to a week or more, but they're very different by then. A woman on Chowhound says she has great success with freezing certain wines, and she's tested the technique with over 70 different wines. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/303282#1712273
Source(s):
http://privatepreserve.com
http://www.wineinnovations.com/
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/303282
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January 03, 2009 10:13 AM
All white and rose wines with few if any exceptions should be served chilled and it is best to keep them in the fridge after opening. It is also best to seal them, use an air extraction seal except for sparkling wines for which use a pressure seal. The period you can keep them for depends on how much wine is in the bottle, the more air space there is the less time the remaining wine will keep for, but a few days for a half full bottle is OK, up to a few weeks not impossible but not really a good idea. Colder than a normal fridge is of dubious benefit. Nearly all red wines should be served at or near room temperature (many Italian red wines for example are stated to be best at 16 to 18 degrees Celsius), if you want to keep a half bottle for next day the best method is an air extraction seal (the main problem being oxidation). If you want to keep it for several days it will keep longer in the fridge but you then need to give it room time to warm up, best in the glass if you are not going to finish the bottle, so pour a small amount each time to speed warming. The limit you can keep red wine for is less than for a white and once there is less than a half bottle it is best to finish it! Sparkling reds (there are a few, usually only slightly so) you really need to finish the same day.
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January 03, 2009 10:32 AM
When it comes to refrigerating before opening, I recommend looking it up for every bottle. It occasionally says on the bottle whether the wine should be refrigerated, but not frequently. Depending on the maker and wine type, some might be better refrigerated and some might not. After opening, refrigerate corked. If it's a wine that is supposed to be refrigerated, then just drink it out of the refrigerator. If it's a wine that's not supposed to be refrigerated, then try to remember to take it out of the fridge a few hours before you drink it. If you forget, no biggie.
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January 03, 2009 01:37 PM
Generally speaking, you would refrigerate white wine (including champagne and sparkling wines), and leave red wine out. Refrigerating red wine tends to suppress the taste. Some red wines can be refrigerated - Beaujolais Nouveau, for example. In terms of the storage, put the cork back in (or use a reusable stopper). Wine will keep for about 3-4 days; you'll be able to taste when it is too old.
Hope that's helpful.
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January 03, 2009 05:52 PM
Well, you can also get bigger bottles that hold ten.
Funny thing, the wine I get (from a local brewery) uses screw caps for the 750 ml size, but corks for the 1.5L size. You'd think they'd want to do that the other way around, since screw caps would be more airtight for keeping undrunk portions of larger bottles safe…
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Funny thing, the wine I get (from a local brewery) uses screw caps for the 750 ml size, but corks for the 1.5L size. You'd think they'd want to do that the other way around, since screw caps would be more airtight for keeping undrunk portions of larger bottles safe…
November 15, 2009 05:26 PM
The main issue when it comes to storing wine is that it needs to be maintained at a cool temperature of between 12 and 16 degrees Celsius. Shoved under the bed won't do. Many modern wines do not need to be aged over a great period of time; therefore extensive cellars are often unnecessary. Having said this, if you have the time, space and resource to excavate a cellar, your wine will surely benefit. A purpose built cellar is not normally an option for most households and so suitable alternatives must be explored.
Ideal areas for storage include a corner of a garage, garden shed, an unused fireplace or a cupboard that is against an outside wall.
Here are some additional details of how you should store your wine http://www.craft-kits.net/how-to-store-wine.htm
Wherever you choose to store your wine, a few basic criteria are worth keeping in mind.
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November 15, 2009 06:01 PM
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