How long does an open bottle of wine really stay good?
It probably won’t happen often at our place that a bottle of wine is still half full. But if it does happen sometime – after the holidays, for example – you can keep the wine for this long:
Red and white wine stays good for two to four days after opening the bottle. Prosecco or champagne stays good for one to three days in the fridge.
Tricks
How long the wine stays good depends somewhat on the type and how the wine was made. There are, however, a few tricks you can use to keep the wine good for longer.
Put the cork back on
If you already know beforehand that you’re only going to have one glass of wine, you can keep the remaining wine good for longer by putting the cork back on the bottle immediately after pouring. If you’re already well into that bottle of wine but haven’t quite reached the bottom yet: make sure the cork is firmly in the bottle, and put it in the fridge.
If you often have half-full bottles, buy a Vacuvin. It essentially creates a vacuum in the bottle, preventing air from reaching the wine and slowing down changes in its flavour. It can also help to pour the wine into small water bottles. It doesn’t look great, but it does work.
Do the check
As we said: every bottle of wine is different, so before you start on your leftover glass of wine, check it by simply smelling it. If it smells more like vinegar than good wine, you know what time it is. Does it smell good? Take a small sip for the second check. Does it still taste like that delicious wine from the day before yesterday? Then you’re good to go.
