How long does red wine last once opened?

As much as we might love red wine, there are occasions where we can’t finish a whole bottle. During these times it’s important to know how to best store your wine so that it lasts as long as possible and maintains the amazing flavours and unique notes fine red wines have to offer. In this guide, we’ll be answering how long red wine lasts once opened and the key storage tips you need to know for your next open bottle.  

How long does open red wine last? 

After being opened, most bottles of red wine will typically stay fresh and enjoyable for around 3-5 days, as long as it has been stored properly. The main thing to remember when storing your open bottle of wine is minimising its exposure to oxygen as much as possible. This will prevent the wine from developing a vinegary type of taste and texture that you probably aren’t looking for from a quality red wine.

Best way to store an open bottle of red wine 

The easiest way to minimise the oxygen contact with the wine is to put the cork back into the bottle after every glass you pour. When you’re completely finished with the wine and aren’t going to re-open it again for a while, it’s best to put the bottle in your fridge.  

The colder temperature will delay the oxidation process which helps ensure the lifespan of the open wine for a few days. Some red wines can even last for a week, particularly those with higher tannin levels. This is because wines with more tannins (bitter compounds from the grapes) are more protected against oxygen.

How not to store your open red wine 

If you don’t have wine often, for example if you have received red wine gift sets and aren’t familiar with how to effectively store it, you might fall into some common traps that will result in your leftover wine going off.  

• Don’t put the bottle on its side in the fridge – even though storing advice for unopened bottles is to keep it on its side to keep the cork moist, this doesn’t apply to open wine. Keeping it upright in the fridge will reduce how much wine is exposed to oxygen and ensure it stays fresher for longer. 
• Avoid rapid temperature changes – to maintain the quality and tasting notes of the wine it is best to bring the temperature of the wine down gradually after taking it out of the fridge. For example, put it in a bowl with warm water until the temperature has increased to the desired point. 

Buy red wine gifts online 

Have you got clients or employees who enjoy red wine? Make an important corporate occasion extra special with a personal wine gift from Jean Juviniere. We have gift box options to suit all possibilities, whether you’re looking for a one bottle gift box or a 12-bottle wine hamper! Shop online and find the perfect gift for your business needs with high quality printing of your logo and fast delivery. Keep in mind Christmas will be here before we know it, so get ahead this year and shop wine gift sets for Christmas now.