Keeping Open Wine Fresh

By: Jenica Faye | September 01 2009
Posted in Rogue Valley - Cook It - Rogue Valley

In late summer and early fall, "hot" usually describes the weather in Southern Oregon. While we relish the heat for other reasons, it's bad news for keeping an open bottle of vino fresh.

Tom and Lisa Beam, owners of Pasta Piatti restaurant and wine bar in Ashland, share some tips on how to extend the life of an open bottle of wine, short of buying a wine fridge or cellar.

Use inert gas and a good quality bottle stopper. When inert gas is squirted into the open bottle of wine it fills the space between the wine and the stopper, allowing less oxygen to come in contact with the wine.

Refrigerate both whites and reds since keeping wine cold slows the oxidation process. They suggest removing red wine from the fridge a little while before consuming it, to give it some time to warm up.

Some reds, Lisa suggests, can last up to four or five days using the gas and refrigeration method, while whites can usually last between five and seven days.

Photo: istockphoto.com/randyromano