After Christmas eve, leftover wines might be sitting in your minibars. Apart from pairing it with your favorite steak or other fancy meals, a bottle of wine would be so much for a night, unless you have many people or you're hosting a party.
In a Gallup survey, results show that 30 percent of American respondents in the survey states that wine is their preferred beverage than liquor and beer. That is why it is not surprising that wine is present on the dining table whenever there are special occasions.
But when you opened a wine bottle and not able to drink it all, its freshness lessened. It will have a different taste once you decide to have a sip again.
Keeping the wine fresh
One bottle of shiraz red wine is left for sale on emptied shelves at a Sainsburys supermarket as the outbreak of coronavirus intensifies on March 25, 2020 in Chippenham, United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has seen mass panic buying in food stores since British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced strict lockdown measures urging people to stay at home with many items now being rationed by supermarkets and social distancing measures being put in place. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has spread to at least 182 countries, claiming over 18,000 lives and infecting hundreds of thousands more.
In an interview with Travel and Leisure, sommelier and expert wine curator Christopher Hoel says there are few things worst than allowing a delicious wine goes to waste.
Hoel shares with Real Simple that the amount of oxygen that comes in contact with the wine itself. Real Simple adds that the wine requires a delicate amount of oxygen exposure because it is vital in the wine's fermentation process to boost the flavor and aroma once the bottle is opened.
Hoel adds that minimizing the wine's oxygen exposure is the key to preserving your favorite bottle of wine.
Read also: Helping Culinary Community: Texas Wine and Food Alliance Debuts
Here are some tips on keeping that wine fresh instead of throwing it in the bin.
Keep in Cold, Dark Place
Wine expert Chrisoula Papoutsakis shares in an interview with Apartment Therapy that a household refrigerator is alright for short term storage of your wine if planned to drink it within a month.
But if it is longer than that, Papoutsakis says finding a dry and stable space with minimal exposure to light could preserve the wine better.
Re-Cork
After getting the wine's cork, do not make the mistake of throwing it in the bin. Hoel says that putting the cork back into the bottle after pouring every glass is the first thing that will keep the wine fresh and preserved.
He adds that doing this limits the oxygen exposure that is important in wine preservation.
Keep it Upright
Hoel adds that putting the bottle sideways is not a good idea. He says the upright position helps minimize the surface area exposed to oxygen, slowing down the oxidation process.
Keep away from a heat source
Papoutsakis explains that keeping the wine close to a heat source will ruin its freshness and taste. Papoutsakis says the wine's ideal storage temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit and below to keep its freshness.
Remember these tips to keep your wine fresh upon your next sip. Holidays are still rolling, and making the most of your wine will reward you no matter how much you spent on it.
Related article: Red Wine Benefits: A Glass of Red Wine Is Equivalent to an Hour at the Gym
