Shelf Life of Opened Wine

Wine is an exotic alcoholic beverage made of fermented grape juice. The composition of grape juice is such that it does not require any additional sugar, acid or enzyme to aid in the fermentation process. Depending on the variety of wine that is being produced, different types of grapes and different varieties of yeast are used for the fermentation process.

The history of wine is very rich and its consumption dates back to around 4000 BC. There are many connoisseurs of wine the world over that absolutely swear by the potency, the utility, the rich taste and the aroma of wines. Wines are generally considered to be beverages for special occasions and this increases its perception as a celebratory drink.

It is true that wine can be stored for many years at a stretch to improve their taste and aroma. Lovers of wine are able to rattle off names and years of vintage wines from the tip of their tongues. The biggest disadvantage of wines though is their low shelf life, once opened. In comparison to other alcohols, the shelf life of an open bottle of wine is much much lesser. The reason for the shelf life of opened wine bottle being so low is the process of oxidation.

As soon as a wine bottle is opened, the space that exists between the bottle neck and the liquid is filled with air. This 'intrusion' by air is an unavoidable phenomenon, and the shelf life of opened wine bottle would be higher if this phenomenon did not occur. But that is not possible. The oxygen that is present in this air then mixes with the wine and causes the process of oxidation to occur.

The question "how long can opened wine be kept?" concerns many people who are consuming wine for the first time. The primary reason for this is that most of the different types of wines are quite expensive and as a result, people do not want wine to go waste. This is why the shelf life of opened wine bottle is a very important factor to keep in mind.

Shelf Life - Red Wine and White Wine
The shelf life also depends on the type of wine. Red wine and white wine are completely different from each other, in taste, aroma, alcoholic content and richness, so it goes without saying that their shelf lives will also differ from one another.

It is widely believed that once a bottle of red wine has been opened, it should be consumed within 24 hours, or one day, of doing so. There are certain varieties of red wine that can also be consumed within 36 hours, but the risk of the wine getting spoiled is very high. On the other hand, the shelf life for white wine is slightly higher. It is generally agreed upon the fact that white wine can be consumed within 72 hours, i.e. 3 days, since the time it has been opened.

How to Store Opened Wine Bottle?
Now, the next step is to figure out how to store an opened bottle of wine. The storage of such bottle will not be for long, as shelf life is extremely short, but to ensure that an opened bottle of wine tastes the same after a period of time, it must be stored appropriately.

The first question that comes to mind is obviously "should opened wine be refrigerated?", and the answer to this question is yes. Like all other food stuffs, a bottle of wine must also be refrigerated. The lower temperatures inside wine refrigerators ensure that the oxidation process and other chemical reactions that spoil the wine, occur at a lower speed. This does not greatly increase the shelf life, but it helps along the way.

Acetic bacteria are tiny microscopic organisms that convert the wine into vinegar once the bottle has been opened and has come into contact with the air. The functioning and effectiveness of this bacteria is also hindered by refrigerating an open bottle of red wine or white wine. When you place the opened bottle of wine in the refrigerator, remember to push the cork back inside the bottle as well.

Storing opened bottles of wine beyond 2-3 days is not a good idea. In most cases, you will end up spoiling the wine, and even if it has not been spoiled entirely, its taste will be completely different from what it is meant to be. The shelf life of opened wine is extremely low, and it is imperative to remember this.