When you open a bottle of wine but don’t immediately consume it all, how long will that open bottle of wine keep? The answer is, “it depends”.
When a bottle of wine is opened, it is fully exposed to a massive amount of oxygen, tremendously speeding up the micro-oxygenation process which will ultimately cause the wine to break down and lose its flavour. Even though wine that is past its prime may taste a little flat or stale, it’s not actually unsafe to consume. If it tastes okay, feel free to drink it. Spoiled wine is essentially vinegar so even though it won’t taste great it won’t hurt you.
To maximize the storage time of an open bottle of wine, make sure the wine is kept as airtight as possible by reinserting the cork or relacing the screw cap immediately following each use. It is also best to store an open bottle of wine upright to minimize the portion of the wine being exposed to the air in the bottle. You can also purchase a vacuum pump and stopper that will remove much of the oxygen from the open bottle. All opened wine, whether white, red or sparkling, should be stored in the refrigerator. Fortified wines can be stored either in the refrigerator or in a cool, dry place.
Sparkling wines like Champagne, Cava and Prosecco have the shortest lifespan after opening. Once opened, the bottle pressure that retains the bubbles dissipates and the wine goes flat. A sparkling wine stopper might help for a day or so, but it is best to drink sparkling wine the day it is opened.
High-acidity white wines, such as Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc will last at least five days in the refrigerator after opening. Lower-acid whites, such as Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Gewürztraminer, Semillon and Muscat can keep three to four days. If you transfer a higher-acid wine to an airtight container such as a Mason jar, before refrigerating it, you can enjoy it for up to a week after it is opened.
High-tannin red wines will keep for up to five days. These wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Syrah/Shiraz and Malbec. Low-tannin reds include Pinot Noir, Baco Noir, Gamay and Sangiovese. They will lose their flavour after two or three days.
The length of time for Rosé to be kept is dependent on the grape varietal that it is made from (all Rosé is made from red grapes), the region the wine comes from and the style in which it is made. On average, Rosé wines will last three to five days after opening when stored in the refrigerator.
Fortified wines have a much higher alcohol content because of the addition of a distilled spirit, such as brandy. Because of the inclusion of the spirit, fortified wines can last up to four weeks after opening if stored in a cool and dry environment. You do not have to refrigerate fortified wines, but it can help preserve them for longer. These wines include Sherry, Vermouth, Port, Madeira and Marsala.
The exception to the rules is bag-in-a-box wines. I won’t comment on the quality of these wines, but they will last for up to a month after they have been opened. Note, though, that boxed wines carry an expiration date on the carton which needs to be followed.
Sláinte mhaith
A Layman's Wine Musings 