How to store homemade or open wine?

Unfortunately, very few admirers of a unique drink are thinking about how to store homemade wine or a product in an open bottle. But you can preserve the delicate taste and aroma of the product for a long time only if the liquid is protected from contact with oxygen.

Open wine or product, originally bottled without observing technical features, quickly oxidizes, rapidly losing its original characteristics. Usually this process does not take more than a day. According to experts, there are opportunities to increase such a short period. You only need to understand the features of existing varieties of the drink and start creating suitable conditions.

Maximum shelf life of wines in open bottles

Any open wine must be stored at low temperature, for this it is customary to use a refrigerator, cellar or other dark and cool place. But even in such conditions, the aromatic liquid quickly begins to lose its attractive sides.

The indicator of how much home or open wine can be stored without losing valuable properties depends on the type of drink:

• Sparkling. After removing the plug, the gas begins to exit the product; if nothing is done, it will completely dry out in about 4 hours. But even if you plug the bottle with a cork, such wine cannot be stored for more than a day.
• Pink. A very light product that begins to lose its delicate taste almost immediately after opening. If you follow the recommendations, then the shelf life of the drink can be increased to 3 days.
• Red. The performance depends on the texture of the composition. A light and airy drink can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Dense and heavy composition will retain its properties up to 5 days.

Tip: Fans of stretching pleasure for several days should pay attention to special young wines, the taste of which is revealed only 2-3 days after opening the bottle.

• White. Despite the fact that the average shelf life of white wine is set at three days, the fruity notes in it begin to erode within an hour after air. This is facilitated by the light texture of the drink and low alcohol content. For this reason, white wine is best consumed during the day.
• Fortified dessert. High levels of sugar and alcohol allow the wine to maintain its original attractiveness and purity of taste for about a week. But for this you will have to take care of the optimal conditions of the product.

These terms are considered average and are relevant only in the case of using cold. At room temperature, the drink will not just quickly disappear, it can deteriorate within a few hours and even cause food poisoning.

Storage conditions for homemade wine

Homemade wine has long ceased to be a luxury item; today anyone can make an original or traditional drink even in an apartment. High-quality storage of wine in this case is based on compliance with the following rules:

1. The optimum temperature. Light wines can be stored at a temperature of + 10ºС, strong ones - under conditions a couple of degrees warmer.
2. Suitable capacity. If the composition was originally in plastic bottles or a barrel, it must be poured into a container of dark glass.
3. Bung. If possible, this should be a product made of natural material. In this case, the bottled drink is stored horizontally.The liquid will wash the cork, preventing it from drying out and reducing tightness.
4. Humidity. It will be better for home-made wines if this indicator is at least 60-80%.
5. Homemade wine actively absorbs the surrounding odors. No matter how much the product is stored in the refrigerator, you need to limit its proximity to pickled or sour vegetables, meat and fish.

Even with short-term storage of home-made wine, sediment can be detected at the bottom of the bottle. You do not need to get rid of it by filtering or pouring a drink. It does not reduce the properties of the product, it does not spoil the taste, it even slightly ennobles the aroma and extends its shelf life.

Methods for extending the shelf life of open wine

Professional winemakers and collectors of exquisite drinks know not only how much and how to properly store wine, but also how to extend this period. The safest and most affordable are the following methods:

• Using a vacuum. There is a special device with which oxygen can be pumped out of the tank and the stopper closed with a stopper. At the exit, we get a practically new bottle of wine. If all the manipulations were done correctly, then the expiration date is counted first.
• Change of container. For lack of specialized devices, a more primitive option is allowed. The liquid is simply poured into a vessel of a suitable volume, it should fill a new container almost to the top. In this case, you need to abandon plastic bottles in favor of glass containers. This method is categorically not suitable for sparkling wines, after the first transfusion all the bubbles will leave the drink.
• Freezing. A rather non-standard approach, which allows not only to extend the shelf life of wine, but to create a new product. The remaining liquid is poured into ice molds and frozen. Received products can be stored up to several months. Subsequently, from these blanks are obtained original sauces, marinades, desserts and dressings for meat dishes.

Original additives can reduce the shelf life of wines or affect their taste, this also needs to be taken into account. Even if the drink was stored taking into account all the recommendations, with the slightest change in taste in the negative direction, it is necessary to get rid of product residues, otherwise there is a risk of alcohol or food poisoning.