Latest news with #winetips
CNET
01-08-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNET
Want Wine That Lasts Days, Not Hours? Try These Storage Tips
If you're sipping solo and not planning to polish off the whole bottle, you might be wondering just how long your wine will stay fresh after opening. Is it a one-night window or can you save the rest for another day without sacrificing taste? Fortunately, your wine doesn't turn to vinegar the minute it's uncorked. With a few smart storage tricks, you can keep it tasting great for several days. Recorking the bottle, storing it upright and popping it in the fridge, even for reds, can make a big difference. The shelf life varies: whites and rosés typically last up to five days, reds about three to five and bubbly just one to three, depending on the style and how well it's sealed. The key is slowing down oxidation. That means minimizing air contact and keeping the bottle cool. Whether you're savoring a bold red or a crisp white, these small steps can help you stretch out your pour and avoid pouring it down the drain. Read more: Need to Find High-Quality Wine on a Budget? Here's How Here's how long wine lasts and how best to store it Once any bottle of wine stays open beyond the few hours it takes to breathe and decant, its quality begins to deteriorate. That's why it is crucial to take some steps to preserve its longevity, should you want to finish the remaining beverage before it essentially turns to vinegar. According to wine educator Rachel Thralls, each wine type requires different storage methods. Here's a breakdown of the most common. Red wine Open red wine should be stored in the fridge to preserve it and removed about 10 minutes before serving. Pamela Vachon/CNET Days it will last in the fridge: 3-5 "Red wines can be stored in a cool, dark place with a cork or in your wine fridge or refrigerator," says Thralls. "The more tannin and acidity the red wine has, the longer it tends to last after opening." For example, a lower tannin wine like Pinot Noir won't last as long as rich reds like Cabernet Sauvignon. "Some wines will even improve after the first day open," Thralls adds. "If you don't have a wine fridge, your regular fridge is better than letting the wine sit out in a 70-degree room. Just take the red wine out about 10 minutes before you want a glass so it warms up a little. The red wine will also open up in the glass." Full-bodied white wine Days it will last in the fridge: 2-3 Fuller-bodied whites tend to lose their oomph a little faster. YourWineStore "Full-bodied white wines such as oaked chardonnay and viognier tend to oxidize more quickly because they see more oxygen during their prebottling aging process," explains Thralls. "Be certain to always keep them corked and in the fridge. If you drink a lot of this type of wine, it's a really smart idea to also invest in vacuum caps." Not long after the cork is popped, all wine begins to deteriorate. Vacu Vin Sparkling wine Days it will last in the fridge: 1-3 Sparkling wine has the shortest shelf lives of any wine. Shutterstock "Sparkling wines lose their carbonation quickly after opening," says Thralls. "A traditional method sparkling wine such as cava or Champagne (which have more atmospheres of pressure, aka more bubbles) will last a little longer than a tank method sparkling wine like prosecco." Invest in a bouchon (sparkling wine stopper) for best results. If you're really serious about preserving your Champagne, Coravin makes a bougie sparkling wine preservation system that pumps carbon dioxide back into the bottle to extend its effervescent fridge life by weeks. Light white, sweet white and rosé wines Days it will last in the fridge: 4-5 Uncorked light white wines can go for as long as five days if kept cold. Fresh Vine "Most light white and rosé wines will be drinkable for up to a week when stored in your refrigerator with a cork," advises Thralls. "You'll notice the taste will change subtly after the first day as the wine oxidizes. The overall fruit character of the wine will often diminish, becoming less vibrant." Tips for storing wine How and where you store wine is important, before and after opening. Wine Enthusiast The aforementioned guidelines are helpful for any wine novice. Thralls suggests a few general rules to take into consideration with any opened bottle. 1. Invest in a wine preserver. "They work very well for keeping wine after it's been opened. You can use the cork and push it back in or try [a product such as] Repour, which removes the oxygen from the bottle." Coravin wine systems are pricier but these high-tech units actually refill the bottle with argon gas, extending the life of red and white wine for up to a month. 2. Store any open wine in the refrigerator. "Or a wine fridge, if you have one," says Thralls. "This cold storage will slow down any development of the wine, keeping it fresh. The ideal cellar or wine fridge temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit." 3. Keep wine away from direct sunlight or sources of heat. "This includes above a refrigerator or oven. It will get 'cooked' and ruin the aroma and flavor." Ideal serving temperatures for wine The Hyperchiller can help you chill warm wine to a proper serving temperature. HyperChiller One could argue that wine temperature depends on personal preference; there are optimal temperatures that somms and wine professionals aim for. Generally, wine actually tastes better served slightly cool, which applies to whites and reds. This $21 device can chill warm wine (or any other liquid) in seconds. "The same ideology of experiencing coffees, teas and sparkling waters at different temperatures also applies to wine," says Thralls, revealing that the more delicate floral aromatics in fine wines can actually be subdued at overly cool temperatures or burn off too quickly when the wine is too warm. "If you drink affordable wine most of the time, serving it slightly chilled will disguise most 'off' aromas," she says. "A wine above 70 degrees Fahrenheit will start to smell more alcoholic because of increased ethanol evaporation that occurs as the temperature rises." Thralls says that this is a good reason to not fill your wine glass up to the brim. "A typical serving of wine is about 5 ounces and a bottle of wine contains just over 25 ounces, so you should get about five glasses of wine per bottle," she explains. "The extra space in a typical wine glass is designed to hold the aromas when you swirl and smell your wine, so try and save some space." The ideal serving temperatures for each type of wine There's an ideal temperature for serving every type of wine. Africa Studio/Shutterstock Champagne and sparkling wines Affordable sparkling wines taste best served at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have a high-quality, more expensive Champagne or sparkling wine, serve at ideal light white wine temperatures, which are slightly warmer. Light white wines and rosés Examples of light white wines are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. These wines are best served between 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, slightly cooler than heavier white wines. Rosé wines also taste best and maintain their crispness and acidity at these temperatures. Heavy whites and light reds Heavier white wines, such as chardonnay, taste well at a range of temperatures depending on someone's personal preference, from 48 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit. Oak-aged whites' fruit tends to taste better when served slightly warmer. Lighter red wines such as Pinot Noir taste better at this cooler end of the spectrum. Read more: 5 Most Common Wine Drinker Mistakes to Avoid, From a Wine Expert Medium-bodied reds Medium-bodied reds, such as merlot, are best served right around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is also the ideal cellar temperature. You can grab your bottle right out of your cellar and pour a glass. Keep in mind that wines tend to warm up in the glass as well. Full-bodied and aged reds Full-bodied reds such as cabernet sauvignon, syrah and zinfandel are best served between 59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. But isn't that too cold for a red wine? The wine will taste much better if cool and, as Thrall mentioned, the glass will warm the wine as well. No matter how you swirl it, a good wine is one that doesn't end up down the drain. If you must tap out and savor the remainder of your bottle for future imbibing pleasure, take all of these tips into consideration and you'll never waste money (and precious alcohol) again. Cheers. Wine expiration FAQ
CNET
30-07-2025
- General
- CNET
An Expert Told Me How to Find Good Wine at a Grocery Store
Nothing beats perusing the shelves of a good, local wine shop, but when you're racing through errands, grabbing a few good bottles at the grocery store can help knock a stop off your list. Not all states allow wine sales in supermarkets, but for those that do, there's better vino hiding near the deli counter than you might think. To find out what's worth tossing in the cart, we asked Jade Palmer, wine manager at Hop City Craft Beer and Wine in Atlanta. "You can absolutely find good wine at the grocery store," Palmer says. Many large producers offer wallet-friendly options without compromising on quality. "Their production is big, but it's often done well," she adds. The key here is knowing what to look for in "over-delivery," that is, wines that punch above their price class in terms of quality. Palmer offers several tips and tricks for finding wines at the grocery store that are more than worthy of your dinner table. (Oh, and if you're wondering if you should pop that open red wine in the fridge to keep it fresh, we asked an expert to weigh in.) 1. Know which wines to avoid Knowing what to avoid is as important as knowing what to look for. Sutter Home While grocery stores and supermarket chains typically have plenty of good wines stocked on their shelves, half the battle can be separating the wheat from the chaff (the grapes from the pits?) where wines are concerned. Palmer suggests a few keywords to avoid when bottle shopping. "I would avoid any wine that has the word 'sweet' in the title," she says, "which typically means the wine is artificially sweetened to make it more palatable." If you prefer a wine with a little sweetness to it, look for the words "off-dry" instead, which better reveals a classically made wine that intentionally has a little residual sugar left following fermentation. Also, wines with other "natural flavors" or those that have been bourbon-barrel aged are sometimes just tricks that mask the wine's honest flavor. "That's why we drink wine," says Palmer, "because we want to taste the flavor of the grapes." (Leave the bourbon barrels for the bourbon.) 2. Skip the mass-market brands Brands with big marketing budgets tend to put their money there rather than in winemaking. Barefoot Wines Sorry, Barefoot, Yellowtail and, yes, even Josh. They may claim the most shelf space in grocery retailers, but you're going to want to dig deeper for better wines. "The production on those has gotten so big that I don't think that the quality is there," says Palmer. "I understand the price point is attractive, but when we're looking for value wine, we're also looking for quality, too," she says. In general, be dubious of any wine that has been excessively marketed to you. (Throwing Whispering Angel under the bus here, too, while we're at it.) Read more: Budget Bottles: An Expert Reveals How to Find the Best Value Wine Brands that have big marketing budgets tend to put their money there rather than in winemaking. Here's where you're likely to find wines with a pronounced oak flavor that comes not from oak aging, but from oak chips stirred into the wine to shortcut the process. (Yes, that's a thing.) 3. Certain regions are known for value: Portugal, Chile, Washington Keep some value-driven wine regions such as Portugal, Spain and Washington state in your back pocket. Seven Hills Among wine pros, certain regions are well known for keeping quality up and prices down, such as the Iberian peninsula. "Portugal is huge for that," says Palmer. "Vinho Verde is such an approachable style of wine and you can find it easily for under $15." Spain also has some great finds: "You can find some really good Tempranillo-based blends that aren't necessarily Rioja. You can find some good Garnacha-based blends as well," she says. Spain also offers a less expensive alternative to Champagne. "Cava is just a good, traditional-method sparkling wine that you can frequently get for under $25." Read more: Best Wine Apps to Help You Pick a Perfect Bottle Stateside, Washington state wines, red and whites both, are gaining traction for their value, according to Palmer. And if you love Napa Cab but hate the sticker shock, "Paso Robles is a great place for Cab," says Palmer. "You can still get the richness, the fullness, and all of the layers of flavor that you could get from Napa and Sonoma, but at a more value-driven price point." These are US regions that are distributing widely enough that at least a few should land in your local grocery store. Also, consider South America. "Argentina and Chile are also great places to find value," says Palmer. "You can find incredible Malbec for under 20 bucks -- a grocery store hero -- and you can find really good Sauvignon Blanc, especially from Chile, and they deliver great value." 4. New Zealand Sauvignon blanc is a safe bet Every supermarket that carries wine should have at least a few New Zealand Sauvignon blancs to choose from. FoxTrot Speaking of Sauvignon blanc, if you haven't already hopped on the New Zealand Sauvignon blanc bandwagon, hop on. If you're already there, stay on. It's one of the most popular wine styles sold in the US, grocery stores and bottle shops both, and for good reason. "It's a safe bet," says Palmer. "It's pretty straightforward. I know what I'm getting when I pick up a $15 bottle, and you can get all of the great fruity, grassy aromas that you expect." 5. Don't be afraid to take a chance Finding great new wine requires taking chances. IL21/Getty On the opposite score, however, there are so many grapes worldwide, and we are collectively drinking so few of them, and you might find a great deal if you're willing to try something new. Even the largest grocery retailers have some deep cuts in their selection. "I have bottles at my shop, where people are like, 'OK, why is this wine $12? I've never heard of this before,'" says Palmer. "I think it's a low-risk, high-reward situation," she says. "People should venture out a little bit and try something different, like a Picpoul, or a Bonarda." Plus, when you find something unusual and love it, you get to play the tastemaker among your friends or family. The same goes for countries or states you maybe didn't know made wine. Uruguay, for example, has started to export more and more wine to the US in the past 10 years, and there are killer, Tannat-based reds and refreshing Albariños available for less than $15. Look for them tucked among the more famous South American wines. 6. Two big names to look for: Louis Jadot and Mary Taylor Louis Jadot's signature old-world labels should be easy to spot on a grocery store shelf. Louis Jadot Louis Jadot wines have a French, classic-looking label you can find in many large retailers, but it's not quite the same as the mass-market brands you should be avoiding, and that has to do with what's called the negociant system. "Negociants such as Louis Jadot buy grapes and make wine, so they are not a grower, necessarily," says Palmer. "It's a class of producer that allows people to enter the market without having vineyard land," she says, a much more common practice in winemaking than people realize. Not needing to own real estate is one way for winemakers to keep their costs down, and pass savings to the consumer. Mary Taylor wines can be found easily and punch above their price. Mary Taylor Similarly, Mary Taylor's line of wines, available in many retailers, is a hand-picked collection of European wines that offer great value. "Her wines are so accessible, and she does a great job of highlighting producers that are using some relatively unknown grape varieties," says Palmer, another vote for unfamiliar grapes. "The price is crazy, because they're all under $20, and the brand exposes consumers to a region that they would have never tried wine from."
