Saving The Life Of An Opened Bottle Of Wine

Occasionally, there are times when you don’t want to finish the bottle of wine you’ve just opened. It may be because you’re conducting a wine tasting, so you’ve opened several bottles. It may be because you’ve opened something phenomenal and want to save it to share with another. Or it may be that you’re on your own and unlikely to polish off a bottle by yourself.

The perfect solution to this dilemma regardless of the type of wine is to invest in a Coravin. A Coravin allows you to pour any type of wine by the glass without the need to pull the cork. By eliminating the risk of oxidisation, it keeps your wines fresh until the next time you decide you’d like a glass. It’s a brilliant wine accessory.

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But let’s assume that we don’t all have a Coravin to hand. What are the rules for extending the life of your bottle of wine and keeping it in optimum condition? What’s the life expectancy of an opened bottle of wine.?

Well not surprisingly, it depends on the type of wine. Let’s start with red wines. A red wine should be re-corked (or re-capped) as soon as possible after drinking and should be kept out of the light, in an upright position at a reduced temperature. You can happily keep a re-corked bottle of red in the fridge for 3-5 days. When you’re ready to sample again, just bring the bottle to the recommended temp of 60-70 degrees.

Whites and Rosés? These too need to be re-corked as quickly as possible and refrigerated as per the previous recommendations. Whites and rosés will last longer than reds and you can safely drink them up to 5-7 days after opening, although the taste may subtly change as the wine oxidises.

Sparkling wines need to be consumed as soon as possible after opening. They are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of light. That’s why you find Champagnes or Cava’s nearly always sold in dark bottles.

If you want to keep your fizz fresh, then your best bet might be a Champagne stopper. These are inexpensive and can prolong your bubbles for a few days. Coupled with the refrigerating advice from previous wine types, your sparkling wines should last about 2-3 days after opening.

Don’t whatever you do throw a teaspoon into the neck of the bottle and trust to luck. This is FAKE advice, and no-one knows how this myth started. You’re almost certain to lose a good bottle of sparkling.

We hope, if you’re ever in the unlikely position of having an open bottle of wine you can’t finish, these tips will ensure your wine lives to spark joy on another day.

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