Spring Cleaning Your Bottles

Spring cleaning is always such an energizing activity (not to mention a great excuse to go on a little shopping spree afterwards).  From dusting long-ignored corners, to admitting that no, this year you still won’t wear that 70’s shirt you’ve been holding on to for the past decade, sprucing up your living space and your life does invigorate the spirit.  And speaking of spirits (and therefore of wine), what should you do with those opened bottles of wine that have been gracing your kitchen for the past few days and (dare we say) weeks or even months?  The answer is that it depends on the type of wine in question, but when one of your bottles suddenly becomes a vintage classic between the moment you opened it and now, it’s definitely time to toss, regardless of the color or type. 

So just how long will those opened bottles of wine last?  Opinions (and tastes) differ with respect to a red wine, but anywhere from one day to three, as long as you remove air from the bottle before replacing the cork.  The presence of oxygen at first pleasantly softens a red wine’s flavors and opens its aromas, but if exposed too long, can literally ruin the wine.  The use of a special vacuum pump which sucks the air out of the bottle prior to re-corking is a simple way of prolonging the life of the wine.  There is also a specific canister of gas that can be sprayed into the bottle, which then forms a protective layer between the wine and the oxygen.  In addition, some recommend refrigerating reds as well as whites after they have been opened, but do remove a red wine at least a half an hour prior to serving it. 

White wines have a slightly longer life once opened, but to continue to drink a bottle after 3 days is taking a gamble.  Again, to ensure the longevity, use one of the tools mentioned above.  While dessert wines can last a few days, vintage ports can last one to two weeks, and tawny ports have the capacity to last up to a few months.

If you just cannot stand to toss the elixir down the drain, using it to cook is an option – as long as the flavor is still pleasing to the palate!  (Click here to read a bit more about cooking with wine – link it to blog)  To cook with a bad wine will taint the flavor of a meal.  Another option (and perhaps the most fun one of the bunch) is just to make sure you make a habit of opening wine with a group of friends who will help you maximize your experience of the wine’s best hours.