Does red wine stay fresh longer in the refrigerator if it is open?
Leftover wine has a short shelf life that begins to diminish once the cork is popped. If you haven’t finished that great bottle you found in the supermarket using an advanced AI-powered wine appthen you want to keep it as fresh as possible for next time. Don’t pour that excess red, white or sparkling wine down the drain, because leftover wine can be stored, sometimes for up to a week.
While different varieties require different storage techniques, there are general rules that every wine connoisseur should consider to extend the life of any type of wine. We have used the expertise of certified sommelier and wine education consultant Rachel is tormented for her tips on keeping your favourite alcoholic drink fresh for longer and the ideal temperatures for serving red, white, rosé and sparkling wine.
And as for that burning question about storing red wine in the fridge. You should keep it fresh for longer, up to five days. Just make sure you let it cool down to a suitable serving temperature before drinking.
How long does wine last and how do you store it properly?
Soon after the cork is removed, the quality of all wine begins to decline.
Once a bottle of wine is left open for longer than the few hours it takes to breathe and decant, its quality begins to deteriorate. That’s why it’s crucial to take some steps to preserve its shelf life, should you want to use up the remaining liquid before it essentially turns to vinegar.
According to Thralls, each type of wine requires a different storage method. Here is a rundown of the most common.
Sparkling wine
Days it can be kept in the refrigerator: 1-3
Of all wines, sparkling wine has the shortest shelf life.
“Sparkling wines lose their crowning glory quickly after opening,” Thralls points out. “A traditional method sparkling wine like Cava or Champagne (which have more atmosphere pressure, i.e. more bubbles) will have a slightly longer shelf life than a tank method sparkling wine like Prosecco.”
Invest in a sip (sparkling wine stopper) for best results. If you really want to preserve your champagne, Coravin makes a spark plug storing sparkling wine system that pumps CO2 back into the bottle, extending the shelf life of the sparkling bottle in the refrigerator by weeks.
Light white, sweet white and rosé wines
Days it can be kept in the refrigerator: 4-5
Uncorked light white wines can be kept for up to five days if kept cold.
“Most light white and rosé wines will be drinkable for up to a week if you store them corked in your refrigerator,” Thralls advises. “You’ll notice a subtle change in flavor after the first day as the wine oxidizes. The overall fruit character of the wine will often diminish and become less vibrant.”
Full bodied white wine
Days it can be kept in the refrigerator: 2-3
Fuller-bodied white wines generally lose their flavour more quickly.
“Full-bodied white wines like oaked Chardonnay and Viognier oxidize faster because they see more oxygen during their maturation process before bottling,” Thralls explains. “Make sure you always store them cork-free and in the fridge. If you drink a lot of this type of wine, it’s a really smart idea to invest in vacuum caps.”
Red wine
Days it can be kept in the refrigerator: 3-5
When opening red wine, it is best to store it in the refrigerator. Remove the wine from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before serving.
“Red wines can be stored in a cool, dark place with a cork or in your wine cooler or refrigerator,” says Thralls. “The more tannin and acidity the red wine has, the longer it will keep once opened.”
For example, a wine with fewer tannins, such as Pinot Noir, will not keep as long as a rich red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
“Some wines actually get better after the first day of being open,” Thralls adds. “If you don’t have a wine cooler, your regular refrigerator is better than leaving the wine in a 70-degree room. Just take the red wine out about 10 minutes before you want a glass so it warms up a bit. The red wine will open up in the glass, too.”
Tips for storing wine
How and where you store wine is important, both before and after opening.
While the above guidelines are useful for any wine novice, Thralls offers a few general rules to follow when opening a bottle.
- Invest in a wine storage box. “They work really well for preserving wine after it’s been opened. You can use the cork and push it back in or try [a product such as] Answerwhich removes the oxygen from the bottle.” Coravin Wine systems are more expensive, but these high-tech units actually fill the bottle with argon gas, extending the shelf life of red and white wine by up to a month.
- Store opened wine in the refrigerator. “Or a wine cooler, if you have one,” Thralls says. “This cold storage slows the development of the wine, which keeps it fresh. The ideal temperature in a cellar or wine cooler is 55 degrees Fahrenheit.”
- Keep wine away from direct sunlight or heat sources“This also applies to above a refrigerator or oven. It gets ‘cooked’ and ruins the smell and taste.”
Ideal serving temperatures for serving wine
The Hyperchiller allows you to cool warm wine to the correct serving temperature.
While it could be argued that wine serving temperature is a matter of personal preference, there are optimal temperatures that sommeliers and wine professionals strive for.
In general, wine actually tastes better when served a little cooler, which is true for both white and red wine. $21 device can cool warm wine (or any other liquid) in seconds.
“The same ideology of experiencing coffee, tea and sparkling water at different temperatures applies to wine,” says Thralls, revealing that the more delicate floral aromas in fine wines can be suppressed at too low a temperature or disappear too quickly if the wine is too warm.
“If you’re mostly drinking affordable wine, you can mask most of the ‘off’ aromas by serving it slightly chilled,” she says. “A wine above 70 degrees Fahrenheit will start to smell more alcoholic due to the increased ethanol evaporation that occurs as the temperature rises.”
Thralls notes that this is a good reason not to fill your wine glass to the brim. “A typical serving of wine is about five ounces, and a bottle of wine is a little over 25 ounces, so you should get about five glasses of wine per bottle,” she explains. “The extra space in a typical wine glass is designed to hold the aromas when you swirl and smell your wine, so try to save some space.”
The ideal serving temperatures for each type of wine
Yes, there is an ideal serving temperature for each type of wine.
Champagne and sparkling wines
Affordable sparkling wines taste best at a temperature of 40-7 degrees Celsius. If you have a more expensive champagne or high-quality sparkling wine, serve it at the ideal temperature for light white wine, which is slightly warmer.
Light white wines and rosés
Examples of light white wines are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. These wines are best served between 45-50 degrees F, slightly cooler than heavier white wines. Rosé wines also taste best and retain their freshness and acidity at these temperatures.
Heavy white and light red wines
Heavier white wines, such as Chardonnay, taste best at a range of temperatures, depending on personal preference, from 48-56 degrees F. The fruit of oak-aged white wines generally tastes better when served slightly warmer. Lighter red wines, such as Pinot Noir, taste better at this cooler end of the spectrum.
Medium bodied red wines
Medium-bodied red wines, such as Merlot, are best served around 55 degrees F. This temperature is also the ideal cellar temperature. You can grab your bottle straight from your cellar and pour. Keep in mind that wines also tend to warm up in the glass.
Full and old red wines
Full-bodied red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Zinfandel are best served between 59-68 degrees F. But isn’t that too cold for a red wine? The wine tastes much better cold and, as Thrall mentioned, the glass also warms the wine.
No matter how you spin it, a good wine is one that doesn’t end up in the sink. If you have to finish the rest of your bottle and save it for future drinking pleasure, consider all of these tips and you’ll never waste money (and precious alcohol) again. Cheers!
