Short Term Storage and After Opening

Short-term storage is usually wine you intend to drink within the next six months. This could be bottles that have been taken from long-term storage or wine you just purchased at the store. If you can store these bottles under the same conditions as long-term storage that would be ideal, but if not, storing them in a cardboard box in a dark closet will suffice.

Many people open a bottle of wine and enjoy a glass with dinner and would like to save the rest for another day. This is certainly not a problem. The key to maintaining a good tasting wine, even after opened is to prevent exposure to air. Air will cause the wine to lose its fresh taste.

 

A red or white wine should be re-corked, either with the original cork or one purchased for that use, and placed in the refrigerator for up to five days. If it is a red wine, sit the wine out and allow it to come to room temperature prior to serving. White wine can be served straight from the refrigerator.

 

If you would prefer not to store your opened red wine in the refrigerator, ensure it is re-corked tightly and it should be good for two days sitting on the kitchen cabinet. If the cork has been thrown away or misplaced, cover the top of the bottle with plastic wrap and secure tightly with a rubber band.

Sparkling wine or Champagne should still be good, re-corked and in the refrigerator up to five days.