Many people think that the wine should be drunk immediately after opening, for fear that the wine will lose its flavor and deteriorate after being opened for a long time. So, how long can wine keep after opening?

There are a lot of old rules about wine, from the type of container it should be in to how expensive it should be. A common misconception is that a bottle of wine should be finished the day it is opened. While wine does begin to oxidize the moment you open the cork, there is no reason for you to binge a liter by yourself, or dump the rest of the liquid down the drain. In fact, an open bottle of wine can still last for days as long as you know how to store it properly.

If you're opening a new bottle of Cabernet just to have a drink or two, leave the cork. Cork stoppers have been an important part of the winemaking process for centuries. The material is dense enough to keep liquids fresh without completely enclosing the air. A small amount of oxygen can allow the wine's flavors to continue to develop, while too much oxygen can create a tart, unpleasant mouthfeel.

Putting the cork back into the bottle when you're done pouring will prevent more oxygen from reaching the wine. If a cork is accidentally damaged or thrown away, use a doll of plastic wrap with a rubber band and aluminum foil as a cork, or a reusable wine cork.

How long can wine keep after opening?

Storing opened wine in the refrigerator reduces its exposure to other harmful elements, such as heat and light. Most red and white wines will keep for 2 to 5 days when refrigerated before they taste bad. However, sparkling wines are no longer drinkable after one to three days, while some natural wines may spoil within a day. High-tannin red wines bought in the supermarket usually have the longest shelf life after opening, up to seven days.

Since the shelf life of wine varies widely from variety to variety, the best way to judge the freshness of a wine is to taste it. Over-oxidized wine doesn't taste good, but it won't make you uncomfortable with a sip. If you don't want to drink wine that might go bad, you can also judge its quality by sight and smell. If the wine turns brown in color, or smells of vinegar, it means it has been oxidized, which means it's time to throw it away and open a new bottle of wine.