by Etty Lewensztain, Wine Expert for the Menuism Wine Blog
I'm all about being resourceful when it comes to leftover food. I've been known to transform last night's seemingly dissonant dinner ingredients into tomorrow's lunch masterpiece. But when it comes to wine, leftovers are an entirely different issue.
A very innocent friend of mine once served me a glass of Pinot Noir from the fridge that she said she had opened "a little while ago." When I inquired further she confessed that by "a little while," she meant three or four months! I quickly poured the entire bottle down the drain and embarked on an open wine diatribe. Needless to say, from then on my friend relied on me to provide the libations for our dinners.
If you ever find yourself pouring a glass of three month-old Pinot, this post is for you! Read on to get the complete lowdown on how to deal with opened wine.
How long can I keep an opened bottle?
The time frames vary depending on the specific type of wine but for
still whites, reds, and rosés
, I would say two to three days is the absolute maximum you'd want to keep an opened bottle. After being open for a couple of days, a wine's aromas will go flat, its native flavors will subdue, and the wine may appear overly sour or acidic. For best results, I suggest finishing the wine within two days of being opened.
Champagne or other sparkling wines are pretty much useless after they've been opened, since the carbonation dissolves very quickly when the wine is exposed to oxygen. It's advisable to open a bottle of bubbly only if you know you'll be able to finish the whole thing, which to be honest, never seems to be a problem.
Fortified wines like Port, Sherry, and Madeira have a much longer shelf life once they've been opened due to their high alcohol and/or high sugar content. These elements act as preservatives and give fortified wines much more longevity than non-fortified wines. The shelf life of an opened bottle of fortified wine will vary depending on the specific wine type. Manzanilla or Fino Sherry, for instance, should be consumed within one week of opening if stored properly in the refrigerator. Port will last a bit longer, and should be consumed within two to four weeks of opening if stored properly in the refrigerator (Ruby Port has a bit longer shelf life than Tawny Port). Madeira lasts just about forever, literally years after opening if stored properly in the refrigerator.
What is the best way to store/preserve an opened bottle?
Are any of the fancy bottle stoppers or oxygen removal systems worth it?
Without a doubt, the best way to extend the life of an opened bottle is to keep it in the refrigerator and to cork it with its original cork or with a tight-fitting bottle stopper. This holds true for all wine types. For red wines, simply remove the wine from the refrigerator a few hours before you'd like to drink it to let it warm up a bit. A wine will deteriorate much more quickly if left on your countertop at room temperature.
When it comes to bottle stoppers, many models on the market are really meant to be decorative as opposed to functional. Opt for stoppers that come equipped with a side tab that clicks closed and seals the bottle tightly. Champagne bottle stoppers can be quite effective but again, you'll see a substantial dissipation in the bubbles due to the wine's exposure to oxygen.
In all honestly, I've never used oxygen removal or gas preservation systems on open bottles, so it's difficult for me to assess their effectiveness, but my general opinion on the matter is that it's better to remove oxygen from the bottle than to add a synthetic gas to the wine to preserve it.
Should I save opened wine for cooking?
Yes! The best uses for opened wine are in the kitchen, not in your glass. Whether using old wine to deglaze a pan and make a quick pan sauce, or to fortify a pasta sauce or braising liquid, I always keep a few old bottles of white and a few old bottles of red in the refrigerator for cooking. Old wine used for cooking doesn't really have a firm expiration date, so feel free to keep your stash of opened cooking wine for several months.
Can I take an opened bottle of wine home from a restaurant if I don't finish it?
Many states allow you to brown bag your wine and take it home if you don't finish it.
.
Etty Lewensztain is the owner of Plonk Wine Merchants, an online shop focused on small-production, artisanal and altogether great cheap wine. The food- and wine-obsessed Los Angeles native cut her teeth in the wine biz running a marketing campaign to promote Chilean wine in the U.S., and is certified by the esteemed Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and the American Sommelier Association. Plonk Wine Merchants specializes in hidden gems from around the globe and every bottle in the store is priced below $30. Follow Plonk Wine Merchants on Twitter @PlonkOnline.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.