Guide · At home
By Vinogrande · 5 min read
Half a bottle is left over from Saturday's dinner. Will it still be good on Wednesday? That depends on the wine, and on how you kept it.
In autumn and winter we open more bottles: longer dinners, weekend nibbles, a glass of Port after coffee. And there is nearly always some wine left. The good news is that, with two or three simple habits, most bottles keep in very good shape for several days.
The enemy is oxygen. As soon as the bottle is opened, air starts changing the aromas and flavour. At first it may even help, but as the days go by the fruit fades and the wine grows tired. Here is roughly how long you can expect each style to last.
At a glance
— The fridge for everything, reds included: cold slows down oxidation.
— Sparkling wines: 1 to 3 days with a proper stopper.
— Whites and rosés: 2 to 3 days; reds: 3 to 5 days, well sealed.
— Fortified wines such as Tawny Port and Madeira keep for weeks; Madeira often for months.
The table
How long each wine lasts once opened
| Style | Once opened | Where to keep it |
|---|---|---|
| Sparkling | 1 to 3 days | Fridge, with a sparkling-wine stopper |
| Light white and rosé | 2 to 3 days | Fridge |
| Full-bodied white | 2 to 3 days | Fridge |
| Light red | 3 to 5 days | Fridge; take out 30 min before |
| Full-bodied red | 3 to 5 days | Fridge; take out 30 min before |
| Vintage Port | a few days | Cool place |
| Ruby and LBV Port | a few weeks | Cool place or fridge |
| Tawny Port and Moscatel | several weeks | Cool place or fridge |
| Madeira | weeks to months | Cool place, upright |
These timings are a guide: every wine is different, and the best way to know is to taste.
The enemy of an opened wine is oxygen. Its best friend is the fridge.
Storing
Five habits that make a difference
- Reseal straight away. Use the original cork, a screw cap or a silicone stopper. The less time it stays open, the better.
- Fridge, even for reds. Cold slows down oxidation. Take the red out half an hour before serving.
- Keep the bottle upright. It reduces the surface of wine exposed to air inside the bottle.
- Decant into a smaller bottle. If half a bottle is left, pour it into a clean 37.5 cl bottle: less air, more days.
- Vacuum pump or inert gas. They remove or replace the air and can extend the life of whites and reds a little.
The signs
How to tell a wine has gone over
- A smell of vinegar or nail varnish: a sign oxidation has gone too far.
- Bruised-apple or nutty aromas in a young white that used to be fresh.
- A brownish colour in a white or a young red.
- Sparkling wine without bubbles: harmless, but no fun. Use it for cooking.
A wine past its best is not dangerous, just unpleasant. And it need not go down the sink: a tired red still makes a good stew, and a white works in a risotto or a fish sauce.
Our selection
Bottles that like being opened
A few Vinogrande suggestions, available right now, that work well every day and for always having an open bottle at home:
01
Vinevinu Génese Espumante Alvarinho Bruto
Alvarinho sparkling wine. With a proper stopper, it keeps for 1 to 3 days in the fridge.
€17.65
View →
04
Poças Tawny Porto
Young Tawny: once opened, it lasts several weeks somewhere cool or in the fridge.
€9.75
View →
05
H.M. Borges Reserva 5 Anos Seco Madeira
Dry Madeira. One of the hardiest wines once opened.
€16.40
View →
06
Secret Spot Moscatel do Douro 10 anos 50 cl
10-year-old Moscatel do Douro. One glass at a time, over several weeks.
€26.90
View →See also Port Wines and Red Wines.
FAQ
What people ask us most
Can I put an opened red wine in the fridge?
Yes, and you should. Cold slows down oxidation. Take the bottle out about 30 minutes before serving so the wine returns to the right temperature.
Does a spoon in the neck keep sparkling wine fizzy?
There is no evidence that it works. A proper sparkling-wine stopper, tightly closed, is the best option.
How long does an opened Port last?
It depends on the style. A Vintage should be drunk within a few days; Ruby and LBV keep for a few weeks; Tawny for several weeks, especially somewhere cool.
✦
Opening a bottle midweek is no longer a dilemma. Just seal it well and keep it cold.
Shop Portuguese WinesPlease enjoy responsibly.
