How to store an open bottle of wine: valuable tips. Weak or complete lack of lighting. Centenary wine - what is it

Wine is a very healthy drink. It improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, strengthens the walls of blood vessels. Preference is best given to dry red. It is important to remember that the beneficial properties of wine can be tasted in full only with moderate use of this tart drink. On average, the daily norm for a person is 150-200 milliliters.

If you can only drink a glass of good wine a day, then what to do with the rest of the contents of the bottle? Store it correctly. This is especially important as the opening of the bottle represents the turning point after which the wine begins to interact with oxygen.

We have found valuable tips for you that will help you enjoy a good wine longer and keep all the valuable properties in an open bottle.

What not to do with an open bottle

Do not store horizontally

Wine should only be stored in an upright position. It is very important. Of course, it is much more convenient and compact to attach a bottle in the kitchen horizontally, but the useful properties of the drink may suffer from this, and it will no longer be useful, or even completely deteriorate. This is due to the fact that a large area of ​​wine in a horizontal position is oxidized under the action of air, which, one way or another, penetrates into the bottle through the cork.

Don't put it on the window

The window sill in the kitchen is also not the best place to store an open bottle of wine. The main reason is the harmful effect of ultraviolet radiation on wine. Do not talk about direct sunlight and fluorescent lamps. Moreover, wine in an open bottle will deteriorate much faster. It should be remembered: despite the fact that dark glass bottles, as a rule, have ultraviolet filters, they still let through a certain dose of light, which does not affect the quality of the wine in the most favorable way.

Do not store near heat sources

Not only light sources, but also heat sources have a detrimental effect on an open bottle of wine. Under the influence of the latter, the wine loses its beneficial properties, because its composition changes significantly. The wine begins to oxidize faster, loses its original rich taste and no longer has such a beneficial effect on the body.

What to do with an open bottle of wine

Stopper

A prerequisite for the successful storage of wine is an elastic cork, which can tightly close the neck of the bottle. That is why, when opening, it is necessary to show all accuracy and pull out the cork correctly with a corkscrew without damaging it. This technique is suitable if you are not going to store the bottle for so long, because a certain amount of air still penetrates inside.

Store in the refrigerator

You can extend the life of an open bottle of wine by simply putting it in the refrigerator. Under the influence of cold temperature, the oxidation processes are significantly slowed down, and the wine is stored better. An important wine hack worth knowing is pouring wine into a smaller container. So you will reduce the oxidation processes several times more. Placing wine in cold temperatures also inhibits the activity of the acetic bacteria, which can quickly ruin the taste, aroma and composition of even the highest quality wine.

Buy a vacuum pump

Take a look at the vacuum pump, which is sold in the wine departments of large supermarkets and specialty stores. This hand-held device helps to deflate and bottle excess air, which will surely prolong the life of your drink. However, you should not impose great miracles on this device. Even a vacuum pump cannot completely eliminate the air from the bottle.

Keep calm

Not only heat and ultraviolet, but also vibrations damage the quality of wine. Keep the wine still, it should not be subjected to vibrations or shocks. This is due to the fact that various kinds of vibrations increase the rate of chemical decay.

How long does wine keep

Once you open a bottle of wine, you can't turn back time. One way or another, it will interact with the external environment to varying degrees. Your best bet is not to store your wine at all, or follow our valuable tips above. Of course, even after a few days, it will not become toxic and will not be a threat to your health, but it will lose its rich and unique taste, aroma and a number of useful properties.

In this regard, it is especially important to know how long certain varieties of wine are stored. The most whimsical are sparkling wine, as they quickly expire and by the end of the day become boring and unpleasant in taste.

White wine also rapidly loses its exquisite fresh aromas and tart taste, so it is undesirable to leave it the next day. However, if you really want, then denser white varieties can be left until tomorrow.

The same applies to light red wines like beaujolais, valpolicella, young spanish. This is not a product that is stored for a long time.

Another thing rich red wines. They can live without losing their nutritional and taste properties for a couple of days. Sometimes a good Bordeaux or Cabernet Sauvignon is fully revealed only on the second day. The younger the wine and the more tannins in it, the more sense it makes to wait and give the drink the opportunity to show itself in all its glory. The fact is that oxygen softens the tannins and helps the aroma unfold.

Concerning dessert wines, then they can safely stand in the refrigerator for a week without losing their taste. This is due to the fact that sugar is present in their composition, which helps to resist oxidation processes longer. However, a week is the maximum, and storage periods should not be abused. Dessert wines include port, Madeira, sherry, ice wine, sauternes.

How to store wine? This question requires a detailed answer, affecting such subtleties as the temperature of wine storage, the possibility of preserving its taste and aroma properties after opening the container, storage at home, and much more.

High-quality wine products are produced in compliance with strict rules of complex technology, therefore real natural wine of live fermentation is deservedly considered not only an exquisite drink, but also rather capricious, and knowing how to properly store wine is a separate science, and even an art!

General rules for storing wine

Without going into details, we can highlight the main conditions on which the correct storage of wine is based:

1. The absence of any light. Only dark rooms are suitable for storing bottles of wine.
2. A humidity index of 70% is optimal for storing wine in bottles with corks made of natural material.
3. Maintaining a constant temperature regime at the level of +11 °С - +14 °С. For white and sparkling, +11 ° С is better - + 12 ° С for red ones a little higher. The shelf life of wine with temperature changes is invariably reduced.
4. Use special shelves for storing wine or stands to keep the bottles in a horizontal position.
5. Peace. It is very important to ensure that the conditions for the wine are such that the bottles do not have to be shifted or disturbed in any other way.

To understand why the shelf life of wine is so closely related to these five rules, we need to look at them in more detail.

Why is "friendship" between wine and light impossible?

Winemaking flourishes in warm regions where sweet bunches of grapes ripen under gentle sunlight, but here's the paradox: sunlight, and any other light, is detrimental to wine. That is why wine is bottled in dark bottles, and especially expensive varieties are bottled with an ultraviolet filter, but even this is not enough to fully protect the product from light.

And the thing is that light starts and accelerates the aging process of wine, contributes to the appearance of rancidity in a fragrant drink, as a result of which its noble taste is lost forever. Such wine will simply have to be poured out, it is impossible to drink it.

This is how wine is stored in a special wine cellar.

Why is it necessary to maintain a certain level of humidity in the storage?

The cork tree, which serves as a material for the manufacture of corks, is very sensitive to air humidity. If the room is too dry, then the cork, respectively, will begin to dry out and shrink, not providing a tight clog to the bottle neck. Air begins to penetrate into the container, the wine quickly oxidizes, and its aroma disappears.

In high humidity, both the cork and the label can become moldy. A bottle of expensive wine with a damaged and peeling off label is half the trouble, and pouring out a valuable drink because its taste and smell began to give off mold is a shame. Even with ideal humidity, the room needs good ventilation, the air in it should not be stale.

Why is the right temperature so important?

The temperature regime that is optimal for wine must be maintained constantly, in no case allowing sudden changes, otherwise the wine will deteriorate very quickly, and the cork will become unusable, maybe even cracked. An elevated temperature leads to premature aging of the wine, and too low deprives it of those excellent taste properties for which this drink is so valued.

A bottle of wine should not stand, but lie

Why are bottles stored horizontally?

Wine storage racks are equipped with special stands that keep the bottles motionless in the supine position, not by chance. This is the only way to ensure constant contact of the cork with the wine, so that it does not dry out and air does not enter the bottle.

Bottles are placed with the labels up not only to make it easier to determine which wine is in each particular container, but also so that a possible sediment can be seen through the transparent bottom side without much concern for the wine. By the way, its presence does not necessarily indicate the low quality of the product, quite the opposite: sediment quite often appears in wines of expensive collection varieties.

Why does guilt need rest?

As already mentioned, good natural wine is a living drink. Processes are constantly taking place inside the bottles, the wine is changing, maturing, while remaining extremely sensitive not only to shakes, but also to vibrations. In order not to disturb the wine once again and not disturb the natural course of its life, experienced collectors do not even dust and brush off the cobwebs from the bottles, protecting their peace.

For long-term storage, it is better to purchase a wine refrigerator; for a short one, a rack is suitable

Can wine be stored for a long time?

Not all varieties of wines are subject to long-term storage, for example, young wine is best consumed as soon as possible after its production. The shelf life of white wine is usually no longer than three years from the date of issue, with the exception of some of its varieties. But the life expectancy of red wine can be calculated in tens of years.

The record holders for the longest shelf life are the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, a real dream and pride of every collector. These wines can even outlive their owner, as they can be stored for up to a hundred years. Contrary to popular belief, not all wines only get better with age, so it is important to know whether it is worth sending each specific bottle of wine for long-term storage in the collection. Perhaps it would be more correct to drink it in the near future at a romantic dinner or in the company of dear friends.

Many connoisseurs of fine wines make good investments by purchasing rare and expensive varieties with a short aging period, and leaving them in storage for one or several decades, during which the value of the exhibits increases to fabulous sums.

Red wine can be stored for decades

Storage space

Where to store wine? This question does not arise when it comes to placing several bottles of wine purchased for the upcoming celebration. If the decision is made to collect a large collection of good wines, then you will have to approach the arrangement of the storage very thoroughly.

From the phrase "wine cellar" always breathes the romance of antiquity and even some mystery. Before the mind's eye, stone walls immediately appear, along which wooden cellular shelves filled with dusty narrow-necked bottles stretch, and huge oak barrels and pot-bellied jugs stand on the floor. Of course, an equipped cellar is the best answer to the question of how to store wine.

Alas, not everyone can boast of having a wine cellar, so many are puzzled by the problem: how to store wine at home, and is it possible to store wine in a refrigerator at a suitable temperature?

I would like to say right away that the refrigerator is not suitable for long-term storage, since in it light and vibration will adversely affect the wine, and it will also quickly absorb the smells of products lying on adjacent shelves.

You can purchase a cabinet for storing wine, inside which the desired microclimate will be automatically maintained. This thing is, of course, not cheap and takes up quite a lot of space, but for a large collection of wines of expensive brands, there is no better option at home.

A couple of bottles can simply be wrapped in dark paper and put in a box, and put it in a dark, cool place.

Wine storage containers

The classic and best option is dark glass bottles, in which wine is usually sold. Some are wondering if it is possible to store wine in plastic bottles. The answer is negative!

A bottle or other plastic container is a completely unsuitable container for storing wine. This material has an unpleasant specific smell, and wine is a product that very quickly absorbs all extraneous aromas. Would you like to drink a "plastic" drink?

For example, dry wine stored in plastic can become downright disgusting. Even vodka, if it was in a plastic bottle, will not change the taste for the better. Why spoil the good quality of expensive wine and vodka products?

Elite distilleries store large volumes of drinks in wooden barrels, moreover, not all types of wood are suitable for the manufacture of such containers. Some use stainless steel cookware. Wine material is often left in it for fermentation in the production of wines in factories or at home.

When asked whether it is possible to store homemade wine in plastic bottles, the answer will be the same: it is possible, but not necessary!

Sparkling wine in storage

Conditions for house wine

How to store homemade wine? Are there any features and subtleties? There are craftsmen who produce simply wonderful home-made wines by fermenting berries or fruits, and quite a lot of such wine can turn out in a harvest year.

Storing homemade wine is, in general, no different from the conditions under which factory drinks are stored, but it is not worth saving it for decades, as it does not have such a long shelf life. However, there are subtleties to solve the problem of how to store homemade wine for the longest period of time:

• use dry sterile dark glass bottles;
• clog them with natural sterilized corks;
• store in a cool dark place.

Note: fortified and dessert wines last longer than others.

What to do with an open bottle?

How long can open wine be stored without harming its quality? It happens that the drink is not completely drunk, and you want to save its leftovers for later. Connoisseurs on the question of how to store open wine, answer: "not for long!"

In this situation, a refrigerator for storing wine will just turn out to be necessary, because at a lower temperature the wine will not oxidize too quickly if it is properly corked. Still, a week is the longest time.

Every day the taste of wine will deteriorate irreparably, so it is better not to store open bottles for longer than a day. Some use special pumps to create a partial vacuum in the bottle, but along with the air, the aromas of the wine itself also disappear from there. It would be much better to just pour it into a smaller container, "under the neck", this method is more effective.

Interesting: the oldest wines can lose their unique bouquet in just a few minutes after uncorking the bottle!

What is organoleptic

Organoleptics - determination of the quality of wine without laboratory experiments. An organoleptic analysis based on the study of wine with the help of the senses (sight, smell, touch, taste and even hearing) can be carried out by an experienced sommelier. A minute is enough for such a person to be convinced of the quality of the fermentation product and draw a conclusion about what is in the glass: real wine or a surrogate.

Wine is also famous for the fact that it requires the right food: meat or cheese, nuts or seafood. For example, crabs, lobsters or our usual crayfish are quite suitable for white, if, of course, they are of high quality and fresh, and not the day before yesterday. , read in a special material on our website.

Wine storage as part of the interior. Video

The tradition of drinking wine dates back hundreds of years. People drink grape drink on holidays, turn to it when they are sad. There are sciences about the cultivation, production of wine, the rules for its use for the full disclosure of all taste qualities, shades. An important aspect is the storage of wine at home, because if the rules are not followed, the valuable contents of the bottles will partially lose their taste and aroma or completely deteriorate.

Where to store homemade wine

The best containers for storing wine are traditionally barrels or glass bottles, firmly corked with a cork made of natural material. The container is made of dark glass, which does not let the sun's rays through, and is closed with a piece of cork tree bark, which allows the wine to breathe and ripen in a special mode. Home wine lovers often pour the resulting product into empty champagne or sparkling wine bottles.

It is allowed to store wine in glass jars, but it is undesirable to cork them with plastic or metal lids, as this will significantly affect the taste of the contents. Use glass lids with special gaskets - this is harmless to the aging process of the drink. Under no circumstances should wine be stored in plastic containers, as they allow oxygen to pass through and cause re-fermentation.

Wine storage conditions

It should not be thought that all wines from long-term storage improve their palatability. This mainly applies to the world-famous varieties of Burgundy wine or from the province of Bordeaux - such wine will age safely in the cellar, lie for several years. Taste and shelf life are affected by:

• crop year;
• weather;
• sugar content;
• percentage of tannins in raw grapes.

There are traditions of drinking young wine when it has not lost its daring lively sparkling taste. If you try to store it, then only spoil it. Among dry wines, whites are stored less than reds, with the exception of elite varieties, such as Chardonnay, which can age up to 20 years. Fortified ones, such as Madeira, are stored longer, without much harm to the aroma, for many years.

Wine made at home cannot be stored for decades, like its famous counterparts. Often, already at the must stage, bacteria enter along with yeast - the wine becomes ill, has a number of significant characteristic defects: a yeast or vinegar taste, a black or whitish tint, and turbidity. It is impossible to send such wine for storage. Even ideal bottled homemade wine should be treated in a special way before storage - wrap the container in a cloth or tow, dip in hot water, heat up to 60 °, this will help increase the safety.

Temperature

Temperature control plays an important role. Recommended wine storage temperature:

• for dry white and red wines it is 10–12 °С;
• for fortified and dessert - 14-16 degrees.

High temperatures lead to faster aging, which prevents the drink from revealing the full range of flavors, and low temperatures slow down maturation. It is especially important to avoid sudden jumps and temperature changes, which have an extremely negative effect on the taste and visual qualities of the wine. All changes in the temperature regime should proceed gradually and within 1.5-2 degrees per day and up to 3 ° C per year.

Humidity

Humidity of about 70% is considered ideal. If this indicator is lowered, the cork may dry out, and air will enter the bottle, an increase leads to the formation of mold and spoils the drink. At high humidity, paper labels on bottles also suffer, therefore, during long-term storage, it is recommended to make inscriptions about the type of contents on the glass with a waterproof marker.

Lighting

For full maturation of the wine, it must be stored in complete darkness. The drink is bottled in dark bottles, but they are not able to completely save from harmful ultraviolet radiation. The cellars are provided with concrete or wooden cells for additional protection. In the apartment for a while, a box or an opaque dense cloth can help, where a bottle of wine should be placed.

How to properly store homemade wine

In addition to complying with the above storage requirements, it is necessary to ensure complete rest for the wine - it is unacceptable to transfer, shake, even move the vessel without special need, since this accelerates oxidative processes. It is preferable to store wine in a lying, horizontal position so that the cork is moistened, which prevents it from drying out, allowing oxygen to pass through and additionally affects the taste of the grape drink, avoiding evaporation.

in the cellar

The ideal place to store wine is considered to be a special wine cellar with strict control over lighting, temperature and humidity. It is built of natural stone and wood, well ventilated and equipped with shelves for storing bottles of wine. It is unacceptable for bottles to come into contact with products with pungent odors, as the wine "breathes" through the cork and absorbs them. Racks and shelves should be placed so that there is free access to their contents.

In the apartment

If you do not have a cottage or summer house, and storing wine in the cellar is impossible, then you will have to carefully select a place in the apartment for this. An excellent solution is to purchase a special wine cabinet with climate control. Inexpensive models hold several bottles and support only one temperature regime, expensive ones store up to a couple of dozen units of wine, and the temperature can vary at different levels of the cabinet.

Specialized racks for storing wine are popular. They are:

• Desktop. Designed for a small amount, they can not only store, but also serve wine to guests.
• Floor. Roomy, made of metal or durable wood.
• Suspended. Small, fit perfectly into the interior.

Often, cabinets or grates without light are already provided in kitchen sets for the safety of bottles. An original design decision would be the purchase of a mini-bar, which not only emphasizes the style of the room, but is also very convenient for storing and drinking wine. You can equip a special cabinet in the pantry for storing homemade wine. The main thing is that direct sunlight does not fall, and there is no high humidity in the room,

Red wine will stand for 5 days, white - no more than 3, champagne or sparkling wine - up to a day, often with a dubious result. Fortified or dessert due to its strength will stand without problems for a week or two. It is advisable to store an open bottle in the refrigerator to slow down the process of destruction of the structure of the wine. Its mode, which is not suitable for long-term storage of bottled house wine, will not harm an open one.

Video

Beginning winemakers often do not have enough suitable containers for storing ready-made drinks - dark glass wine bottles with a special cork. The first thing that comes to mind is to pour homemade wine into plastic bottles or three-liter glass jars for preservation. Both methods have both advantages and significant disadvantages. In order not to spoil the drink, a special approach is required.

Attention! The purpose of this article is to consider simple options for the temporary storage of wine in resource-constrained conditions. I am not calling for abandoning traditional bottles, replacing them with plastic containers and cans. It is advisable only in a critical situation and for a short time.

How to store wine in a plastic bottle

There are a lot of negative reviews on the Internet. Often, users complain about the smell or taste of plastic in the wine. Indeed, due to the characteristics of the material, it is very risky to simply pour wine into the first plastic bottle that comes across without understanding the essence of what is happening.

To store wine, only plastic bottles marked PET (PETE) and HDPE (the first two types, usually marked on the bottom) can be used. Plastic with numbers 3-7 is not suitable! But it is worth remembering that chemical elements, even in the composition of PET or HDPE plastic, can react with alcohol, the strength of which is above 18-20%. This does not threaten ordinary homemade wine with a maximum alcohol content of 10-14%, but before pouring fortified wines into plastic containers for storage, I advise you to think about the consequences.

Another problem with plastic is the ability to pass air and other gases, which leads to oxidation and a slow deterioration in the quality of wine during long-term storage.

Given the properties of the material, you can store homemade wine in plastic bottles for no longer than 3 months in a dark room with a temperature of 5-16°C.

Factory packaging, some producers of domestic and foreign wines are already switching to plastic containers, but there is still no consensus in the scientific community about the effect of plastic on the organoleptic properties of the drink

To avoid contamination of the drink with pathogenic microflora, the appearance of a plastic smell or taste, I advise you to strictly follow the pouring technology:

1. Use bottles for drinks and food only. Preferably with a minimal smell, for example, it is very difficult to wash the container in which the beer was stored, the specific aroma of hops remains, which can spoil the wine.
2. Check the marking, there should be an inscription PET (PETE) or HDP (number 1 or 2 in a triangle with arrows).
3. Rinse the bottle thoroughly with warm water (temperature not higher than 25-30°C). Dry. After drying, sniff, slightly pressing on the edges near the bottom, so that the air inside the bottle approaches the nose. There should be no odors, otherwise throw away the bottle.
4. Prepare a disinfectant solution: dilute pharmacy iodine in cold, settled water (proportions - 10 ml of iodine per 25 liters of water). Any other disinfection method suitable for plastics and foodstuffs can be used. Iodine is the simplest and most affordable solution.
5. Pour the prepared disinfectant into bottles (preferably to the top or periodically shake incomplete containers). Separately soak in lid solution. Leave on for 45-60 minutes.
6. Drain the solution. Fill disinfected plastic bottles with wine, leaving 1-2 cm to the top of the neck. Seal tightly with lids.
7. Store in a cellar, basement or refrigerator for no longer than 3 months in an upright position. At least once every 10-15 days, check the organoleptic properties of the wine, if foreign smells or tastes appear, immediately change the container.

Plastic containers labeled PET and HDP are great for fermentation.

Storing homemade wine in jars

When aging wine in ordinary liter or three-liter jars, there is only one problem - how to ensure sealing without harming the drink. During conservation, the jars are rolled up with metal lids or closed with nylon. In case of contact with wine, both of these materials can change the taste for the worse. The metal oxidizes, capron - releases specific substances.

The problem with the cover is solved in two ways. The first and most correct option is to use a glass lid for jars, while be sure to replace the rubber seal with a safe silicone one. The main thing is that the jar is airtight and does not let air through. In the case of a glass lid, the shelf life of wine in a dark glass jar is 2-3 years (in fact, this is a full-fledged bottle), in transparent glass - 1 year. Fill the container to the top.

Glass lid with silicone seal instead of rubber is the best solution

The second, easier option is to leave 4-5 cm of free space in the jar so that the wine does not touch the lid. Banks should be stored vertically at rest, without shaking during transportation. With nylon lids, you can additionally secure the drink by attaching food foil to the inside of the lid (securely fasten so that the foil does not fall to the surface). The disadvantage is that the wine will slightly oxidize under the influence of the air remaining in the jar, but this is not terrible and practically does not affect the taste.

In a dark, cool place, the wine evaporates weakly, so the contact of alcohol vapor with the lid material is minimal and does not cause problems for a short time period. The recommended shelf life of homemade wine in a jar with a metal or nylon lid is 3-6 months.

Attention! Wash and sterilize jars thoroughly before filling. I do not recommend using a container in which dairy products were previously stored due to a persistent smell that instantly spoils the wine.

Wine is a very delicate drink, requiring attention and accuracy. You need to store wine in certain conditions, otherwise it will quickly grow old and deteriorate. This article provides the basic rules for storing bottles of wine - both unopened and already opened.

Storage of closed bottles

After you have brought the wine from the store, you need to put the bottle in a dark, cool place. Yes, it is to put, and not to put, since the wine should touch the cork; otherwise, air (and, accordingly, oxygen) will seep into the bottle, and the wine will slowly oxidize and deteriorate. Of course, this process is slow, and a bottle may well stand for a couple of weeks. But it is better, of course, to put it down. In a dark place, since light is harmful to wine: if exposed to light for a long time, the wine may have an unpleasant aftertaste (this is especially true for white and rosé wines).

It is desirable that the place where wine is stored is also cool. The ideal option, of course, is a wine cellar. But it is quite expensive, and if you are just a beginner wine lover, and not a collector or connoisseur, then you probably do not need to purchase a wine cabinet. Although if funds allow you, then it is unlikely to be superfluous.

It should be emphasized that you should not put wine in the refrigerator, especially on the upper shelves, where it freezes more. The optimal temperature for storing wine is about 12-14 degrees, but in addition to this temperature, optimal humidity (65-80) should also be maintained during storage. Temperatures below 10 degrees wine is harmful! In addition, temperature “jumps” are harmful, even within small limits.

The refrigerator, as you know, "dries" food. At very low humidity, the cork dries out, and this is harmful to the wine. In addition, the refrigerator often also vibrates, and this, again, harms the wine. In addition, wine can absorb smells from the refrigerator through the cork (for example, the smell of fish for your beloved cat).

Accordingly, the wine should be stored in a dark and cool place, in a horizontal position. Bottles should not be constantly inspected and shifted: wine loves peace. There should be no sources of any noticeable odors nearby.

At the same time, it is worth noting that if you are going to drink wine in the near future (or in a month or two), then it is quite possible to put it in a secluded place in the room (not next to the radiator or stove, of course). Nothing bad will happen to him. Yes, and in advance (several months before drinking) buying wine is again not worth it if you do not have a wine cabinet or wine cellar. This is especially true for sparkling wine.

Storage of fortified wines

Fortified wine bottles should be stored upright, otherwise the alcohol can attack the cork and cause unwanted reactions. Naturally, fortified wines love darkness, peace and coolness.

Storing open bottles

A separate question is how to preserve wine in an already uncorked bottle. For example, you drank a couple of glasses at dinner, and didn’t pour out the rest? Some people just close the bottle with the same cork and put it somewhere. But this is not the best option, since air penetrates into such a bottle at an accelerated pace, and the wine begins to quickly oxidize and deteriorate. Of course, if you close the bottle with a cork, put it in a warm place in the refrigerator, or even leave it at room temperature, then the wine will remain in good condition until the next day (moreover, it may even improve slightly). However, after a couple of days, its taste properties will deteriorate.

But it is better to take additional measures. One way to preserve wine in an open bottle is to use vacuum stoppers, which can be purchased at specialty stores. This stopper allows you to pump out excess air from the bottle and prevent fresh air from entering the bottle. Thus, the wine can be stored for several days (preferably in a cool and dark place).

Another option is pouring into small bottles - with a capacity of 0.2, 0.35, 0.375, 0.5 liters. Such bottles can remain with you from cognac, whiskey, and other drinks in small containers. They usually close with a metal screw cap. So, from an open bottle, wine must be poured into a small one (or into several small ones), and wine must be poured “to the eyeballs” into each small bottle, it must fill almost the entire volume of the bottle. So the wine (being placed in a warm place in the refrigerator after pouring) can be stored for several days without losing its taste and aromatic qualities.

Fortified wines can be stored longer in a warm place in the refrigerator for up to a week after opening. Sparkling wines are best drunk as a whole.

Buying wine for storage

Sometimes there is a desire to buy a bottle of wine and put it in the cellar (suddenly you have one) for about five to eight years. And here it must be said that not every wine can be stored. There are a number of nuances that you need to know, so you need to contact a specialist or read specialized literature. Any wine that is meant to be drunk young (what a pompous phrase!), after five to eight years of storage (even according to the rules), will “die”, and you will have to pour it into the sink.

In any case, a wine that can improve its properties during long-term storage (and it must be right!) costs in Russia an average of 1,000 rubles.