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How To Store Wine Properly

The key takeaway should be to store your wine in a dark and dry place to preserve its great taste. If you can’t keep a bottle entirely out of light, keep it inside of a box or wrapped lightly in cloth. If you opt for a cabinet to age your wine, be sure to select one with solid or UV-resistant doors.

How long can you store wine at room temperature?

How long can you store wine at room temperature? Don’t worry, you haven’t destroyed your wine just yet. Wine can be stored at room temperature for about 6 months before any major damage has occurred, assuming it’s not in direct sunlight or by your furnace.

Is it OK to store wine upright?

Wine Storage Rule #2: You should always store wine on its side, rather than upright. You may think that because you’ve seen wine sold upright in stores, this is the correct way to store it, but unfortunately, it is not. Keeping the wine in constant contact with the cork maintains the seal and protects the wine.

Is it OK to store wine at room temperature?

DON’T: Keep your wine at room temperature long term. As we stated earlier, room temperature is typically too warm for serving wine and also too warm for the long term storage of wine. Warm wine is dull and flat and, in extreme cases, overly alcoholic or vinegar tasting.

How do you store red wine?

Tips on how to store open red wine Store your red wine bottles upright; storing wine on its side means the surface area exposed to oxygen increases. Avoid storing red wine in the light, especially direct sunlight. Store open red wines in the fridge; however, remember you should never chill unopened red wine too much.

How do you know when wine goes bad?

Your Bottle of Wine Might Be Bad If: The smell is off. The red wine tastes sweet. The cork is pushed out slightly from the bottle. The wine is a brownish color. You detect astringent or chemically flavors. It tastes fizzy, but it’s not a sparkling wine.

Does wine go bad if not refrigerated?

Repeated temperature fluctuation is never good for any beverage, especially one as sensitive as wine can be, but as long as you aren’t cooling the wine down too much, or taking it out of the fridge and placing it in a hot closet or garage, it should be fine when you finally get around to popping the cork.

What is the best angle to store wine?

Wine bottles should always be stored either horizontally, at a 45º angle with the cork facing down, or somewhere in between. This will keep the wine in constant contact with the cork ensuring no air gets into the bottle.

Should you store wine upside down?

Storing your wines horizontally is best. When a bottle is sideways, the wine stays in contact with the cork, keeping it wet so that that cork will not dry out, shrink up and let air get into the wine, causing premature oxidation. Upside down is definitely better than right side up to keep the cork moist.

Why is wine stored vertically?

This was done because of a theory that the cork, being a porous material, would dry out if the wine was stored upright. If it were to dry out, the seal that it forms with the bottle would weaken or potentially break, letting oxygen into the bottle and cause the wine to oxidize.

Should you put red wine in the fridge?

Does wine need to be refrigerated after opening? Yes! Just as you store open white wine in the refrigerator, you should refrigerate red wine after opening. Beware that more subtle red wines, like Pinot Noir, can start turning “flat” or taste less fruit-driven after a few days in the refrigerator.

How long does red wine last unopened?

RED WINE – UNOPENED BOTTLE How long does unopened red wine last? Most ready-to-drink wines are at their best quality within 3 to 5 years of production, although they will stay safe indefinitely if properly stored; fine wines can retain their quality for many decades.

What happens if you store red wine in the fridge?

But you shouldn’t be afraid of storing opened red wine in the fridge. Cooler temperatures slow down chemical processes, including oxidation. A re-closed bottle of red or white wine in the fridge can stay relatively fresh for up to five days.

How do restaurants keep wine fresh?

Open bottles are held in glass-fronted cases and each bottle is attached to a spigot. As the dispenser siphons wine from the bottle, an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon fills up the empty space, keeping oxygen out. The dispensers keep wines at ideal serving temperatures for both whites and reds.

Where should you store red wine after opening?

Store wine in a cold, dark place. Place your open, re-corked bottles in the refrigerator (or a dedicated wine fridge if you have one). If you don’t like the taste of cold red wine, remove the wine bottle from the fridge about one hour before serving. It will be back to room temperature by the time you pour it.

How do you store red wine after opening?

Keep the open wine bottle out of light and stored under room temperature. In most cases, a refrigerator goes a long way to keeping wine for longer, even red wines. When stored at colder temperatures, the chemical processes slow down, including the process of oxidation that takes place when oxygen hits the wine.