Tips for Storing Opened Wine

Need information on storing opened wine? Find some great tips for red wine storage that will allow you to enjoy your red wine a few additional days.

1. If you store your opened red wine properly, it can last up to a couple of weeks. However, It's best to drink your left over wine in 2 to 4 days to preserve the taste.





2. If you drink more than half of the bottle, move the remaining wine to a smaller bottle to decrease the amount of oxygen that mixes with the wine. You'll probably want to have a few smaller bottles available, so that you can use the one that will allow you to fill it up as much as possible. Once it's filled up, add a stopper to the top to store the wine.


3. If you drink less than half of the bottle of your opened red wine, you can keep the wine in its current bottle or you can also move it to a smaller container. As I mentioned in #2, the red wine stores longer if you have it in a container that is filled as close to the top (with as little extra air) as possible.


4. Keep the red wine cool after it's opened in order to slow the process. You can even refrigerate it, if you have a refrigerator that will keep it cool. A dedicated wine refrigerator is best, but your regular refrigerator also works as long as its not too cold. This is a great way to continue storing opened wine a little longer.


5. If you do drink the wine more than 4 days after it's been open, be aware that the taste may change due to the longevity of the oxygen exposure.

Overall, once a wine is opened and exposed to oxygen, the red wine will begin to change. These tips allow for storing opened wine to maximize the life of the wine. However, it's always best to plan on either drinking the bottle once it's opened or within the next couple of days in order to maintain the integrity of the wine.

Want to learn more about how to store red wine before it's opened? Check out the section 8 Tips for Storing Wine to learn more. The decanting wine, pouring and other serving tips page also has some great information on serving your red wine.

Merlot wine, Tempranillo wine and other types of red wine should all be served at slightly different temperatures. Visit the Red Wine serving recommendations page to learn more.