How to store opened Red Wine without cork?

When you open a bottle of wine but don’t finish it, you’ll need a place to keep the rest! It’s crucial to understand how to store wine without a cork so that you don’t squander the rest of your bottle.

In this post, we’ll go over different ways to store red wine after opening without a cork.

How to store wine once the bottle is opened?

1. Recork the bottle –

After pouring individual glasses of wine from a bottle, close it. Use a reusable wine stopper or the cork that came with the bottle.
Re-seal the bottle by putting the cork in the same direction as it was pulled out. Even if it looks easier, avoid inserting the “clean” side of the cork into the bottle facing the wine since it may not be clean and might contaminate the wine.

[1] If you don’t have a cork or stopper to seal your wine bottle, cover the mouth with a little plastic wrap and fasten it with a rubber band.

[2] Replace the tight cap on the bottle if it has one.

2. Store in chilling refrigerator –

Place the bottle in a wine chiller or the refrigerator once it has been re-corked. However, keep in mind that once the wine comes into contact with the air, it will soon lose its fruit and freshness. An unsealed bottle should be consumed within 2-3 days.

[1] Whether on a rack or in the refrigerator, do not put the wine bottle horizontally on its side once opened. This exposes more of the wine’s surface area to oxygen.

[2] Keep in mind that chilling wine will not prevent it from spoiling, but it will slow down the chemical process that causes it to lose its flavor.

3. Do not keep the opened bottle in heat –

Keep an opened bottle of wine out of direct sunshine and extreme heat. Cool, dark locations or a refrigerator are ideal.
Temperatures exceeding 70° F should not be stored. To avoid heating and discoloration from the sun, store the wine away from a window.

[1] When removing leftover red wine from the fridge or another chilly location, allow it to warm up gradually. Place the bottle in a bowl of lukewarm water or take it out of the fridge 1 hour before serving.

[2] If you’re a wine connoisseur, investing in a wine cooler that keeps your wine at a steady temperature might be wise.

4. Use Small Container to restore –

Fill a half-size wine bottle halfway with leftover wine and seal it. The wine’s surface area exposed to oxygen will be reduced, reducing the aging process.
Ensure the cork, stopper, or screw-top on your half-bottle of leftover wine is securely fastened.

[1] Save empty half bottles, which you can often discover while shopping for dessert wines, and reuse them for this purpose repeatedly.

[2] If you don’t have any half bottles on hand, another small glass container with a tight seal will suffice.

5. Always have a vacuum cup –

Purchase a wine vacuum cap system, which eliminates oxygen from the bottle. This might perhaps extend the freshness of leftover wine.

[1] Suppose you regularly have opened bottles of wine to preserve or consume varietals that are particularly prone to oxygenation, such as full-bodied white wines like oaked Chardonnay or Viognier. In that case, you may wish to invest in this gadget.

[2] It’s worth noting that opinions on the efficiency of wine vacuums differ. Some argue that the oxygen removal is only partial or that removing the wine’s fragrances and the oxygen damages the wine’s flavor.

6. Investment in inert gas –

In an opened bottle of wine, replace the oxygen with inert gas, most frequently Argon. Wine shops can sell you a gadget for this reason.

[1] For a less costly solution, try an aerosol spray or a more complex system like the Coravin.

[2] Invest in this method if you’re a wine lover who regularly has to retain open bottles, such as at a restaurant or other service venue.

Special Wines and their storage

1. Sparkling Wines need extra care.

When keeping wine for any time, sparkling wines are one thing to be cautious about.

Because they’re carbonated and have a greater acid content, they’re more likely to lose their fizz, so keep them out of the fridge and away from strong odors like onions, which can cause the bubbles in these bottles to dissipate over time.

Keeping sparkling wine for more than one to three days is not recommended. To keep the carbonation, place it in the refrigerator and seal it.

Purchase a bottle stopper manufactured exclusively for keeping sparkling wine to provide a more secure closure. Carbonation causes a standard cork to pop out.

A vacuum pump should not be used on sparkling wine bottles since it will remove the carbonation.

Due to the minor reduction in carbonation and rounding out of tastes, some individuals prefer day-old sparkling wine like champagne over newly opened champagne. However, don’t count on the flavor to last more than 24 hours.

2. Fortified and box wine

Fortified wines, such as Marsala, Port, or Sherry, may be kept longer than typical wines. You may also purchase wine in a bag-in-box configuration for longer storage.

Because of the inclusion of brandy or sugars in the case of dessert wines, fortified wines can last longer. Refrigerate them for up to 28 days with a cork.

Keep boxed wine in the fridge for two to three weeks before consuming it. Pay attention to the expiration date, which is mentioned as per standards for food stored in plastic.

What Causes Good Wines to Go Bad?

Several reasons might cause a wine to “go bad,” but oxygen is the most typical culprit.

Because the more air your wine is exposed to, the faster it will oxidize and degrade, avoid storing these bottles on their sides or in a place where they will be exposed to direct sunlight.

Conclusion

At the end of this article, we learned about the different methods to preserve wine once it has been opened without a cork.

Moreover, if you intend to consume all of your bubbly at once, chill it first and then pour it into glasses before sipping to ensure no air enters the glass during the pour.

Check this article on how to store wine.