Saving Leftover Wine Ever had a bottle of wine that you couldn't finish because you drank only one or two glasses and it just didn't taste good the next day or the day after? Have you ever avoided opening a bottle of wine because you knew you'd be the only person drinking? Many of us choose not to enjoy wine on a regular basis because of the deterioration of leftover wine. Well, go ahead and open that bottle of wine and appreciate the flavor enhancement that wine brings to your meals because there are simple options for preserving leftover wine.

Wine generally tastes best when it is first uncorked, with the exception of some reds which may need an hour or so to "breathe" or "aerate." Once a bottle is opened, however, it begins to oxidize which leaves the wine with a vinegar taste. There are several ways to avoid this problem. One way you can save wine is by recorking it and placing the bottle on its side in the refrigerator. White wines will last about 2 days and red wines can last as much as 3 to 4 days refrigerated. You will lose some flavor, but generally you'll still have wine that is enjoyable.

Another option is to transfer the unused wine into a smaller bottle, recork it and refrigerate. This allows less room for air between the wine and the bottle opening which reduces the oxidizing process. The best way to preserve the flavor of leftover wine in its bottle, however, is with a wine vacuum. A wine vacuum pulls the air out of the bottle thus limiting oxidization and flavor deterioration.

By
Bev Brock-Alexander