We’ve all been there. You open a bottle of wine to enjoy with some cheese and crackers, but then life gets in the way and you don’t finish it. Maybe you have a glass or two and then put the cork back in, intending to drink the rest later. But later comes and goes, and that half-full bottle of wine is still sitting in your fridge. Is it still good? Can you still drink it?
The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. There are a lot of factors that come into play when determining how long wine will stay fresh after opening. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of those factors and give you our expert opinion on how long you can keep that bottle of wine before it starts to go bad.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when it comes to wine is that exposure to oxygen is what causes it to spoil. That’s why it’s important to minimize the amount of time that your wine is exposed to oxygen after opening. Here are a few tips for keeping your wine fresh:
-Store wine in a cool, dark place: A cool environment will slow down the oxidation process, while light can cause chemical changes in the wine that can impact its flavor.
-Invest in a quality wine stopper: A good stopper will create an airtight seal, minimizing exposure to oxygen.
-Don’t refill the bottle: Once you’ve poured out a glass of wine, don’t pour more from the bottle into your glass. Pour what you think you’ll drink and then re-cork the bottle.
-Finish the bottle within a few days: If possible, try to finish the bottle within three days of opening. The longer it sits open, the more quickly it will spoil.
So, how long is wine good for after opening? It really depends on a number of factors, but generally speaking, you should try to finish an opened bottle of wine within three days. By following the storage tips above, you can help minimize exposure to oxygen and keep your wine fresher for longer. Cheers!