How long is white wine good after opening? That’s a good question you should know before you open any bottle of wine. Wine can stay good for hours to days. Temperature, wine quality, and other factors influence the final answer.
How Long Is White Wine Good After Opening? (3 Answers)
Picture this – you open a bottle of wine on a weekday evening. You have a full day of work tomorrow, so you don’t want to finish the bottle. At the same time, you don’t want to waste the wine either, especially if you picked up a nice bottle.
The answer to the question depends on the type of wine.
- Light White Wine. A bottle of wine will typically last 4-5 days.
- Rich White Wine (i.e., Full-Bodied White Wines). This type of wine will last 3-5 days.
- Sparkling Wines. This type of wine has the shortest shelf life – 1-2 days.
With the above summary in mind, you can plan to avoid the curse of spoiled wine like a sour taste and the loss of fruity flavor.
Now that you know how long white wine is good after opening, another question will come to mind. What are you supposed to do with an unfinished bottle of wine? To avoid the pain of a vinegary taste in your white wine glass, there are a few steps you can take as a wine enthusiast.
How To Make Your Wine Last Longer
Tip 1 Close the wine with a wine stopper
Putting a wine stopper in the bottle is the first step to making your wine last longer. For everyday wines, I recommend using the wine cork that comes with the wine.
Want to impress the wine lover in your life? Help them upgrade their wine appreciation by giving them a vacuum pump or a vacuum stopper. These devices are helpful ways to reduce air exposure and the process of oxidation which causes wine to go bad.
Using a cork to preserve wine is the traditional method of handling the wine. It is essential to recognize that there is a risk associated with cork, such as cork taint. Experts estimate that about two percent of bottled wine suffers from cork taint. When cork taint strikes, your wine will have a cardboard taste. A bottle of wine should not taste like that! If you encounter this taste in a restaurant, send the wine back and ask for a replacement.
Tip 2 Make wine last over a week
If you ask some wine enthusiasts, “how long is white wine good after opening?” you might be surprised at the answer. It is possible to keep the wine in good condition for more than a week.
The solution is simple: use a Coravin wine system. This piece of wine technology involves using a neutral gas, typically argon, to preserve the wine. The process is simple. By adding neutral gas to the wine bottle, you drive out the oxygen from the bottle. As a result, exposure to oxygen will be cut to nearly zero. Your leftover wine will still be enjoyable even a few days later.
Tip 3 Keep the wine out of the light
Direct light, especially sunlight, can reduce the shelf life of your wine. That’s why wine fridges are typically dark when they are closed. A wine lover without a wine cellar can still use a kitchen fridge to keep the wine
Tip 4 Store the wine at a consistent temperature
Temperature change can ruin wine quickly faster. A bottle of wine left on the counter goes bad more quickly because it will be exposed to temperature change throughout the day, especially if exposed to sunlight.
Three Ways To Store Your Wine
There are a few ways to ensure that a bottle of wine remains at an appropriate temperature. Use the following basic guidelines to store your wine and reduce the risk of drinking a glass of wine with a vinegary taste.
Kitchen Fridge
Storing the wine in your kitchen fridge is better than leaving it out on the counter. You get two benefits – reduced exposure to bright light and colder temperatures. There is a downside to using a kitchen fridge to keep wine. When you open the fridge, the lights come on, and the temperature may change slightly. These changes may harm more delicate wines.
Temperature-Controlled Wine Fridge
Keeping wine stored at colder temperatures is easier when you have a wine fridge. Unlike your kitchen fridge, a wine fridge will not be open and regularly closed throughout the day. As a result, the wine will not be exposed to constant temperature changes.
While using a temperature-controlled wine fridge is fantastic, it isn’t suitable for everyone. These appliances can be pretty costly, and they take up space in your home.
Wine Cellar
Setting up a wine cellar is another way to keep wine preserved for more extended periods. Having a long-term goal to set up a wine cellar is a popular wine enthusiast goal. The downside is cost and space. Setting up a full wine cellar, mainly if you include temperature control capabilities, would cost thousands of dollars. Some wine enthusiasts portrayed in “The Billionaire’s Vinegar” (find out more about this book in The Billionaire’s Vinegar: Unlocking the Real Mystery of Thomas Jefferson’s Wines) spent quite lavishly on their wine cellars – one collector bought an entire house to contain his wine collection.
Looking For Beginner Wines?
Now that you know the answer to how long is white wine good after opening, you’re probably wondering what wine you should try next. If you are new to wines, I recommend checking out this short guide to the best beginner wines. You’ll learn the fundamentals of the most famous wine grapes like Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.
After you have mastered beginner wines, you might decide to pick up a wine journal to keep track of your wine journey. In that case, preserving the wine bottle label can be a fun way to keep a souvenir (especially if you have a case – find out how many bottles of wine are in a case?). If that appeals to you, find out how to remove wine labels.
