Along with leftover turkey and sides, some people may still have wine left over after enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family. How long is it still good to drink?
Winn Roberton, the in D.C.鈥檚 Georgetown neighborhood, told WTOP that once you open a wine bottle, oxidation begins. Once oxygen enters the bottle, it can cause a flat taste, leading to a loss of flavor.
鈥淭he No. 1 killer of wine is oxygen,鈥� he said.
Roberton, a Rockville, Maryland, native, said it is important to have a plan to protect the wine once you start pouring. The key is to keep the cork on the bottle. The more wine that is still in the bottle, the longer it will stay fresh.
If any wine remains in the bottle and it is corked, Roberton recommended storing it somewhere cool. White wine will be in the fridge, whereas reds can be stored in a cooler, dark area.
鈥淕oing down the line, ros茅s and then whites pretty close, maybe a couple days in the right conditions,鈥� Roberton said. 鈥淒epending on the red, it could be up to, I’d say, five days at the most, if it’s a really big, hearty red wine kept in a nice, cool, dark area after it’s opened.鈥�
For the best taste, Roberton recommended enjoying a glass as soon as possible and pairing it with leftover Thanksgiving food. He also recommended testing pairings based on what you do with your leftovers, for example, pairing white wine with spicy turkey tacos or red wine with roast beef sandwiches.
鈥淥verall, if you’re dealing with food-friendly wines from the beginning, then you’re going to be in a good spot from main course to leftovers, etc.,鈥� Roberton said.
The shelf life for most white wines can be a few days, while red wine can last five to seven days. Wines with high levels of tannins or natural compounds from grape skins take longer to degrade once oxygen enters the bottle, meaning they will last longer. Some examples include cabernets, merlots and Bordeauxs.
鈥淲ines themselves are protected by their tannin, their alcohol, their acidity, things like that,鈥� Roberton said. 鈥淚f it’s a bigger red wine, it’s going to last a little bit longer.鈥�
As wine ages, it loses its aromas and fruity and nutty flavors, making it less enjoyable to drink.
Most will oxidize and may not be good to drink. However, Roberton said every wine is different, and others may have an enhanced flavor after being stored away.
鈥淚f it’s been about a week, it’s probably done,鈥� Roberton said. 鈥淏ut if you try it and taste it and you think it’s delicious, keep it or drink it.鈥�
A good stocking stuffer for any wine enthusiast is a tool that helps to preserve wine longer. Roberton recommended a , which creates a spout to pour without pulling out the cork, allowing the bottle to be stored right away if there is any left over. Another option is a Repour Wine Saver stopper, which will replace the bottle鈥檚 original cork.
The holidays are a good time to learn about wine and preservation, so you can always enjoy a glass, Roberton said.
鈥淚 would encourage people to branch out and to be fun,鈥� he said. 鈥淏oth in wine style and bottle size 鈥� and just have fun with it.鈥�
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