Storing Opened Wine Bottles: The Battle with Oxygen

With the popularity of new laws that allow restaurant patrons to take home unfinished bottles of wine, the question among wine enthusiasts now is whether the wine will be drinkable the next day or even several days later. For many, the choice has always been: finish the bottle or pour it down the drain. For others, it means saving the bottle for cooking, but not drinking. There are others, however, who have found ways to save wine from opened bottles.

Chilling

Amy Reiley, author and wine expert, readily suggests storing the unused wine. “Once a bottle is opened, red or white, I stick it immediately in the refrigerator. There is a lot less chance of oxidization in the fridge.” Oxidization, of course, will kill any opened wine.

The fridge is really the first place to start. Wine kept there in a cool, dry place will keep the wine relatively drinkable, usually a couple of days. How drinkable and how long the wine will stay that way depends on the quality of the wine you purchased in the first place. Big young reds with high tannins can last a bit longer and may actually mellow to your liking. Some experts feel that whites can store better.