How long is red wine good for after being opened? Should it be refrigerated?

Answer 1

Depends on the wine, if it's properly re-corked, temperature...if everything is in order, I'd say a couple of weeks, maybe longer if decanted and not stored in the original bottle. You must keep it at a constant temperature though...around 55 degrees...

Answer 2

Red wine, before opening, doesn't need to be refrigerated until before service. White wine, we refrigerate, though. Unopened, it will keep for years.

Forget what you have heard though...past a year or two, wine does NOT improve with age. Cork does NOT improve the wine. Most differences in expensive wines can only be told by wine snobs.

Now, if you open it...you've exposed it to the air. It now needs to be refrigerated to prevent bacterial infection. it also starts breaking down. You have generally about 2 days, although a week is not unheard of depending on acidity. 2 days is what we try to train people in though.

Answer 3

It'll be fine for several days after opening, just put the cork back on pretty tight. You can fridge if you like, but most red wines should be kept at room temperature. I never drink my red wine chilled it takes away from the flavor and the distinctness from the wine.

Answer 4

I don't care for cut & paste answers, so I'll tell you what I know:


Basically, you'll get similar flavours for about 2 days. After that, the wine starts to oxidize. A week later, it won't taste like the same wine and may start to taste vinegary. It won't "go bad" after 2 days, meaning you won't get sick if you drink it, but it will be a shadow of its former self.

As far as refrigerating it, I personally don't. I've heard that it can help maintain flavour, but I drink my open bottles within 2 days of opening them, so refrigeration isn't necessary.

To respond to the other answers: no, aged wine is not always better and ageing wine does not mean opening it and letting it sit.

no, red wine will not last "several weeks" after its been open. It may still be drinkable, but it won't taste like much or won't be the same.

Enjoy your wine! Salut! : )

Answer 5

Preserving & Storing Wine*
Preservation

Once a bottle is open, the air immediately begins to change the wine. The first effects are favorable, i.e. breathing, but ultimately air will begin to change the wine into vinegar. The crudest, yet most common, solution to saving an open bottle of wine is to put the cork back in and put it back in the refrigerator or cellar. You cannot expect old or delicate wines to survive this way, but most young whites and light reds will last a couple of days. The wines will lose a little freshness, and the taste will be flatter, but they seldom become undrinkable.

If you know that only half of the bottle is going to be consumed, as soon as you open it, decant half of the wine into a half-bottle, then re-cork it and put it back in the refrigerator or cellar. Of course it is much better to drink the other half of the bottle as soon as possible, but it can last for up to a week using this method.

Since the late eighties, the wine industry has focused on devising ways to reserve unfinished bottles. Wine-conserving gadgets work on two basic principles: remove the air from the bottle to leave a vacuum and put an inert heavy gas onto the surface of the wine. The results from both methods seem to be quite erratic. For the die-hard preserver, the Vintage Keeper is a far more sophisticated and expensive inert gas device, and seems to have favorable responses. The simple solution? Drink or share any special bottles in one sitting.

Storing Wine

In today’s modem society, few people have the luxury of having a cavernous or subterranean wine cellar. Most wine drinkers have less than perfect storage arrangements, but that does not mean that wine should not be protected from damaging conditions. There are several factors that determine the success of an aging bottle: temperature, light, humidity, movement, and placement.

Temperature

With central heat and air, our standards of room temperature have changed dramatically. The comfortable 70°F that is common in most homes today can wreak havoc on wine. An ideal storage temperature ranges between 45°F and 55°F. You can store wine to within a degree or two of freezing, but be careful that the wine does not actually freeze, or you will potentially have a spoiled bottle of wine, a protruding cork, and a mess. At the other end, wine can be stored up to 68°F. but remember that the higher the temperature the more rapidly the wine will mature.

Try to avoid large temperature variances. Constant temperature is the key to proper storage. A cooler spare room is ideal, as long as the temperature does not spike when guests arrive. Similarly, outdoor buildings and attics are usually poorly insulated, allowing for dramatic temperature variances.

With all that said, there are places in the common home that are acceptable for wine storage. Choose the spot carefully, and monitor the temperature often. North facing walls, old fireplaces, and upstairs cupboards can all provide a comfortable location for wine storage.

Light

Light, both sun and ultraviolet can cause problems for wine. Luckily, most wines come with a natural defense...a colored bottle or colored cellophane. In addition, you can take extra precautions and simply the cover the wine with a blanket.

Humidity

The relative humidity of the air can cause problems for wine. Most cellars are kept at a high humidity. This is easily noticed by the moist, damp, stench of the air. Low humidity can cause the cork to dry, allowing oxidation to occur inside the bottle. Ideally, relative humidity should range between 55 and 70 percent. The only real consequence of high humidity is the gumminess of the labels as the moisture breaks down the paper and glue.

Movement

Wine does not take well to constant movement or vibration. It should be kept still, preferably on a horizontal wine rack. Bottles should always be stored on their sides to keep the wine in contact with the cork. Today’s market is flooded with racks of different shapes, colors, and materials. Some manufacturers will even custom design racks to fit your specifications. Normal bumping and transportation will not ruin a bottle of wine; however you should allow a bottle that has been shaken up the chance to recover. A few days should do the trick. Be especially careful of red wine that contains sediment. Make sure it has had a few days of stillness before you try to decant.

Other Cellar Options

If you are set on storing very expensive or especially, old wines in a cellar, there are a few options. To begin with, you can purchase a cellar for your home. They are very effective, but they are also space consuming and expensive. Another option is to rent cellar space. There are now self-storage systems where you rent a temperature controlled vault and come and go with your wine at your discretion. But for most people, a simple wine rack in a cool, damp place will suffice.

Answer 6

you should never refrigerate red wine! unless you have a wine pump to seal it air tight you'll want to drink it in the first day or two or it will lose all its natural bouquet and distinct flavor

Answer 7

AS long as it's not open it will last a long time,if you liek your wine cold put it in the frig. But it will last for a while. Aged wine is better.