Whether you’re looking to make the most of your wine collection or simply enjoy a bottle here and there, it’s important to know how long white wine lasts once opened.
Opened wine is exposed to oxygen and oxidation, which destroys the flavors in the wine and makes it taste flat. This is why it’s best to re-cork the bottle after each drink.
Lighter whites
Lighter whites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and other blends tend to keep longer than their fuller bodied counterparts. They will usually last for around 5 days after opening if they are stored properly and in the fridge with a cork. However, over this time you will likely notice that the wine oxidises and the flavours become less vibrant and fruity.
The length of time that a wine will last once opened depends on a number of factors including temperature, air pressure, the alcohol content and the type of bottle used to store it. Often, lighter white wines will go bad faster than fuller bodied varieties such as reds due to a series of chemical reactions that occur when wine is exposed to oxygen and other elements in the air.
Opened wine is more susceptible to oxidisation, which causes the wine to lose its fruity characters and a bitter vinegar-like smell. This is why it’s important to re-cork and store the wine in the fridge after opening, and to make sure that it is kept in cool conditions.
Once a wine is opened, it is also exposed to bacteria such as acetic acid which can eat through the alcohol and leave behind a bitter taste in the glass. This is why it’s important to store the wine in a cool environment such as a refrigerator and ensure that it is kept tightly sealed, which will slow down the reaction.
Another factor that affects how long a wine will last once opened is the body of the wine. The body of a wine is determined by the amount of residual sugar, the alcohol content and the acidity of the wine.
A lighter body is more like water in the mouth, whereas a heavier body will feel like syrup or a viscous liquid. These types of wines are generally easier to drink and are perfect for pairing with light meals, seafood or grilled white meats.
A good example of a lighter wine is Pinot Grigio, which has fresh, citrus flavors and little residual sugar. It pairs well with fish, chicken or other mild-bodied foods and makes refreshing sangrias. Alternatively, try Roussanne, a dry white wine from France with complex flavors of hay, pears, honey, peaches and mineral notes.
Fuller bodied whites
When you walk into a wine store, it’s easy to get confused by the different types of wines that are available. Those with light-bodied, medium-bodied and full-bodied labels can often be difficult to distinguish from each other.
These classifications are based on a few factors: alcohol content, grape variety, and the winemaking process. For example, a white wine with an alcohol content of 13.5% or more would be considered full-bodied.
The amount of oxygen that a wine is exposed to during the winemaking process can also affect how long it lasts once opened. For instance, white wines that have been aged before being released to the public are more likely to oxidize quickly, so it is best to drink them as soon as they are ready.
For most fuller bodied whites, a bottle can last three to five days once it’s been opened. This is because they have already gone through a significant amount of exposure to oxygen during the aging process.
While it isn’t always obvious that the wine has degraded after a few days of being opened, there will be some loss of flavor and aroma that is not detectable at first. It is a good idea to re-cork any opened white wines and put them back in the refrigerator to keep them fresh for another day or two.
Fuller-bodied whites that have been fermented in oak should have better staying power than non-oak-aged whites. The oak adds a layer of flavor to the wine and can help preserve the fruit and floral aromas that are typically lost with a non-oak-aged white.
The oak aging can also help to smooth the texture of a fuller-bodied wine, which tends to be more viscous than lighter-bodied wines. This is mainly due to the wine’s higher alcohol and higher residual sugar.
Full-bodied whites that have been fermented and aged in oak can last up to a week after opening, but they are best enjoyed while still young. This is because they don’t have the time to fully develop their fruit and floral flavors.
Reds
Red wine is one of the most popular drinks around, but it can be difficult to know how long a bottle of wine should last once opened. There are a few factors to consider before opening a bottle of red: its alcohol content, its tannin levels and its acidity.
Wines with more tannic levels are better protected against oxygenation and tend to keep longer. Tannin is a compound found in grape skins, seeds and stems that helps preserve wines and increase their ageability. Some red varietals have naturally higher levels of tannin than others, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
A light red with low levels of tannin, such as Pinot Noir, will only last a few days after opening, while richer reds with high levels of tannin, like Shiraz and Nebbiolo, can last up to five days. You can extend the shelf life of your red wine even more by storing it in a cool, dark place with a cork.
However, remember that a wine’s taste and aroma will change after it’s exposed to air, so don’t expect it to stay the same after you open a bottle. For this reason, it’s a good idea to drink your reds within three to five days of opening them.
If you’re looking to keep your red wine fresh for longer, it’s best to store it in a cool, dark place and avoid exposing it to air in temperatures above 70 degrees F. This will help it retain its tannic and acidic qualities, which are what make it so delicious to drink.
The shelf life of a bottle of red wine also depends on its temperature, according to a report by UK retailer Laithwaites in 2017. Lighter and sparkling wines are less likely to keep up with their aromas and flavor after being exposed to air, but fuller-bodied and heavier styles of reds can last longer as they are able to maintain their fruity, complex flavors for longer periods.
Some red wines are designed to be aged in a wine cellar or other similar environment so that they can develop more complex flavors over time, which is why they typically don’t keep as well once they’re opened. The exception to this rule is fortified wines, which are crafted with high levels of tannin and can last for months after being opened and stored properly.
Champagne
Champagne is a celebratory wine that is great for toasting special occasions like New Year’s Eve or birthday parties. However, once opened, champagne can lose its flavor and become stale. The length of time a bottle of champagne can last once it’s opened depends on several factors including storage, temperature, and air exposure.
When stored properly, Champagne can remain fresh for up to a year unopened and up to five days when it’s opened. In addition, it can still retain its carbonation for a few days after opening.
Vintage Champagne has a much longer shelf life than non-vintage. These wines are aged for a longer period of time, typically between three and five years.
It should be stored in a cool, dark place. It should also not be exposed to direct sunlight as this will cause the bottles to oxidize.
Once opened, Champagne should be consumed within two to three days to maintain the best flavor and quality. If you have leftovers, store them in the fridge or cellar.
The bottle can be opened by removing the cork and then rotating it at an angle to ease out the stopper. This helps prevent the cork from leaking.
Alternatively, you can remove the cork with a cork opener. Be sure to use a high-quality cork opener as this will prevent the cork from being damaged or broken when you remove it.
When storing an opened bottle of Champagne, it’s important to keep it in the refrigerator, where it can be chilled. But it’s not a good idea to put it in the freezer, as this will kill the bubbles and will ruin the taste and flavor.
A Champagne bottle should be stored at a temperature between 8degC and 10degC to allow the wine to develop its aromas and flavors. This is a good idea for short-term storage, but if you are going to store it for more than 24 hours, you should also ice it.
Champagne should be bottled with a specific type of Champagne bottle stopper that provides a tight seal and allows the wine to stay cold. This will help to maintain the quality of the wine and extend its shelf life.