It’s after the holidays and let’s face it. You’re maybe not drinking as much as you were over the holidays OR you’re the only one out of the friend group that’s decided to forego Dryuary. Which means more time drinking with pets instead of people … and more leftover wine.
Now you can save your wine and enjoy it just as much as the next day with these easy tips for storing a bottle of wine.
When it comes to saving a half-drunk bottle of wine, remember the three factors that will significantly affect the quality: oxygen, heat, and light. And when put that way, there’s really only one answer to this dilemma — the refrigerator.
Prevent a favorite wine from going bad by simply re-corking and placing it back in the fridge, even if the bottle is a red! It will last longer than sitting on your countertop. And if you don’t want to drink a chilled bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, just set it out for an hour the next day to get it to a more neutral temperature prior to drinking the leftovers.
SCREW TOP WINES
It doesn’t get any easier than this! Simply set the cap in an area where it won’t get lost or thrown away, and then screw the cap back on when finished pouring. Place back in the fridge to preserve the quality.
CORKED WINES
A good rule of thumb for corked wines is to always re-cork with the stained side. It’s best to just place the cork back in the same position it was in before, even if it’s a challenge squeezing that half back in the neck of the bottle. That’s because the “clean” side isn’t so clean anyway. It’s the part that was exposed to more elements, particularly if it traveled without foil or wax on the top.
If you live alone, or find yourself frequently having wine leftovers on hand, invest in wine stoppers that will keep your half-drunk bottles lasting longer. Luckily, this investment doesn’t take much money at all. We even found one from Crate & Barrel that’s 5-stars and less than $2! Rabbit wine stoppers are also very popular, and they come in an assortment of colors. Find one that seals well and fits your design preference, so you can enjoy your favorite wine throughout the week.
SPARKLING WINES
You’ve probably already heard a number of hacks on how to preserve those bubbles in your wine for morning-after mimosas. The truth? Sparkling wine is never as good once popped. However …
Some people say putting a spoon handle in the top works to keep your wine sparkly for an extra day or so. The jury’s still out, but it looks like that might be more myth than fact. Your best bet for saving sparkling wine is with a champagne wine stopper. Find one here, and see if your bubbles pop just as much as they did the day before.
OR … JUST BUY CANNED
It’s a good portion size, comes in a variety of delicious flavors, and won’t go bad because you’ll drink it all.
No hassle. No fridge space wasted. Just a can of wine you can finish. And isn’t finishing the wine you bought the point anyway?
