Wine is drunk on many occasions formal and informal, and often bottles may remain unfinished at the end of the function. What do you do with these part bottles especially if they are good quality wines? Whatever you do don't throw them out, seal them up so they can be enjoyed again in a day or two.
For many people the idea of preserving an open bottle of wine is not even contemplated, but if you are left with a partly used bottle, for goodness sake save it for another day. If you just replace the cork or other closure without extracting the air you are trapping oxygen over the surface of the wine which will lead to oxidation in a very short time.
Wine
Is this all a bit over the top?
Well, certainly not if you are dealing with higher quality, more expensive wines or if you live on your own and are unable to finish a bottle yourself, keep it to be enjoyed for another day. Why waste something that has been crafted and nurtured for so long? As a winemaker I will always look after a bottle of wine especially knowing how much effort went into its production. Top Tips on How to Look After Your Wine.
1. With a vacuum pump and stopper [Vacu-vin]. Insert the stopper into the bottle neck, and with the pump, extract the air with about 5 to 8 pumps or until you feel a slight suction from the stopper. The stopper will now be fully closed creating an air tight seal. This is an excellent simple product and often comes with spare stoppers so you can keep a red and a white on the go at a time.
2. It is not always necessary to store the bottle in the refrigerator (if it is too cold, when opened many flavours will not show through). So store in a cool, dry place such as a wine cellar or room with no heat.
3. Do not allow the wine to get too warm, i.e. stored near to a radiator or other heat source, as this will quickly deteriorate the wine by oxidation. When a wine oxidises it will turn brown and taste awful - then you will definitely have to throw it out.
4. The use of a preservative gas, usually Argon (in cartridge form) helps to retain freshness in the wine. The gas is inert and will create a protective barrier between your wine and the oxygen in the air. This is a great way to preserve open bottles of wine for up to 21 days. This system is the preferred method used by many wine producers which allows them to offer many of their wines for tasting at once without the worry of having to discard bottles before they are empty.
With these tips there is no need to waste any more wine, but most importantly, you will be able to enjoy your wine again as if it were a newly opened bottle. Wine saving devices are not expensive, some just the price of a bottle of wine - so it makes sense to save.
No more oxidised wine and no more unintentional vinegar!
How to Preserve an Open Bottle of Wine
Rob Hemphill has been a professional winemaker for over 20 years, and is now a freelance marketing writer living in the UK. He specializes in wine consultancy and has a wide knowledge in vines, vineyards and wine growing techniques as well. His favourite varietals are Gewurztraminer and Shiraz.
To learn more about wine, please visit Understanding Wine where you will find a wealth of interesting wine information.
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