How to Store Opened Red Wine
An open bottle of Pacific Rim wine is a delicious invitation, but what happens if you’re left with little choice but to store part of the bottle for later? It absolutely happens, and learning how to store opened red wine for a few days until you can revisit it is an absolute must.
Why Storing Open Red Wine is Even Necessary
Not sure why there’s such a fuss about storing the wine in the first place? It’s actually oxygen’s fault. Oxygen has the power to turn red wine basically into vinegar. Keeping the amount of oxygen that touches the surface of the red wine to a minimum is what can help prolong its shelf life, giving it as long as five extra days before you have to dump the rest of the bottle.
How to Store Opened Red Wine - A Step-by-Step Guide
If you do decide you can’t finish the bottle, there are a number of things you should do immediately. It starts the moment you uncork. After you pour a glass, re-cork the wine immediately. The “clean” side may seem like it fits easily in the bottle, but that’s the last thing you want to do. You want to use the stained side, as it’s already been exposed to the wine itself.
When you put it away, go ahead and store it in a darker place that is cooler than room temperature, even if you think you might go back for a second glass. A refrigerator is a good choice, as it helps to slow the chemical process of oxidation down.
As you put it in the refrigerator, be sure to store it upright. Storing it on its side means increasing the surface area that is exposed to the oxygen that will eventually ruin your wine.
Other Options
There are other options in the world of wine preservation. In fact, if you’re looking to learn how to store opened red wine, you’ll quickly come across vacuum pumps and more. Many restaurants even use some of these options. They all work in a similar fashion. They eliminate the oxygen in a bottle in one way or another. Vacuum pumps just suck it out so the bottle can be resealed, and most are fairly affordable. They can keep your wine fresh for at least two weeks. Wine gas preservation systems work a bit differently. They insert an inert gas, like argon, into the bottle to displace the oxygen. That creates a protective layer around the wine, helping it stay good for quite some time. While these are great options, some can get expensive.
Storing red wine may seem frustrating, but once the bottle is open, it’s a necessary skill. Enjoy your glass of red wine now, and if you must store it, do so carefully.