Wine, made from grapes, can be further divided into red and white based on flavor and structure. Each wine has its own unique characteristics, some with berry aromas, others with tropical notes. How do you store opened red wine? How do you keep red wine after opening?

The first key: oxygen.

To prevent oxidation, avoid contact between the wine and excessive oxygen.

Unopened wine: Store horizontally.

Because dry corks are prone to brittleness, unopened wine should be stored horizontally to keep the cork moist and prevent it from drying out, thus preventing air from entering the bottle.

Opened wine: Store upright.

Storing wine upright reduces the area of ​​the wine exposed to air. Products like vacuum caps, which extract air from the bottle, and Coravin wine dispensers, which allow wine to be removed without damaging the cork, are both based on the concept of reducing contact between wine and air.

The second key: temperature.

The ideal storage temperature for wine is 10-15°C. If the temperature is too high, the wine will mature faster. Avoid storing wine in areas with large temperature fluctuations.

Can wine be refrigerated?

For long-term storage, it’s recommended not to keep wine in the refrigerator for too long. This prevents the wine from taking up space in the refrigerator and preventing the flavors of other foods in the refrigerator from affecting the wine’s aroma.

And the most important factor is low refrigerator humidity. When humidity is too low, the cork can easily dry out. This increases the chance that air can enter the bottle and come into contact with the wine, potentially causing it to spoil.

Unopened wine:

If you don’t plan to drink it soon, refrigerating wine is absolutely not recommended.

Opened wine:

However, if the wine has already been opened, putting the cork back in the bottle and storing it upright in the refrigerator is a good way to preserve it.

The third key: Sunlight

Whether your wine is opened or unopened, it should always be kept out of direct sunlight. Higher temperatures increase the chance of wine spoiling.

Some studies have also shown that wine exposed to direct sunlight is more likely to develop unpleasant flavors. This is why many wines are stored in green (or dark) bottles.

Unopened wine:

Find a cool, shady spot at home out of direct sunlight. If your floor is tiled and cooler than the room temperature, it’s recommended to lay the wine horizontally on the tile floor.

Opened wine:

Re-cork the bottle and store upright in the refrigerator.