In general, an unopened bottle has a much longer shelf life than an opened one. Wine is designed to last for a long time, after all. When grapes are fermented into wine, yeast is added to break down sugar and convert it into alcohol. This helps preserve the juice in two ways. Second, the addition of all that alcohol makes it much harder for most bacteria to survive, which also keep spoilage at bay. Even though wine is designed to last longer than plain grapes or grape juice, it will still break down eventually.
When someone talks about aging a fine wine , they generally mean rich, red wines — think Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot — that are designed to get more mellow over time. Wine lovers make sure they provide the perfect storage conditions to allow the finest wines to develop their best flavor over the years. Think of this as the one exception to a general rule that you should drink your wine within two years of the expiration date. UV rays will cause a breakdown of the chemical compounds that make your wine smell and taste its best.
Keep bottled wine out of direct sunlight to help at last longer. In the days before refrigeration, wine was stored underground to keep it cool and reduce temperature fluctuations. Pro Tip: Your standard refrigerator is designed for food storage and is typically kept at 38 degrees — too cold for wine. Wine bottles sealed with traditional corks need some extra attention to last well in storage.
If this happens, it will shrink and allow air and bacteria into the bottle, which will, in turn, lead to a very bad flavor as the wine turns to acetic acid and develops a vinegary taste.
Keep the cork moist by storing bottles on their sides. Tips How long does unopened white wine last? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize the shelf life of unopened white wine, store in a cool, dark area, away from direct heat or sunlight. To maximize the shelf life of unopened white wine, place the bottle on its side rather than standing it upright - this will keep the cork moist and airtight.
The shelf life of an opened bottle of wine varies depending on the type. In general, lighter wines go bad a lot faster than darker varieties. Storing wine in lower temperatures will help slow down these chemical reactions and keep opened wine fresher longer.
Here is a list of common wines and an estimation of how long they will last once they are opened:. Opened wine goes bad due to a series of chemical reactions that can change the flavor of the wine. In general, lighter wines go bad faster than darker wines. To prolong the shelf life, opened wine should be tightly sealed and stored in the refrigerator.
Besides looking at the printed expiration date, there are signs that your wine — both opened and unopened — has gone bad. For the most part, dark-colored wines, such as purple and red , that turn a brownish color, as well as light white wines that change to a golden or opaque color, should be discarded. Unplanned fermentation can also occur, creating unwanted tiny bubbles in the wine.
A wine that has been left open for too long will have a sharp, vinegar-like smell similar to that of sauerkraut. Wine that has gone stale will start to have a nut-like odor or smell like applesauce or burnt marshmallows. One the other hand, wine that has never been opened but has gone bad will smell like garlic, cabbage, or burnt rubber. If you are feeling adventurous, tasting your wine is also a good way to tell whether it has gone bad.
Tasting a small amount of bad wine will not cause any harm. A wine leak that is visible in the cork or a cork pushing past the wine bottle rim could be a sign that your wine has undergone heat damage, which can cause the wine to smell and taste duller.
You can follow his ramblings here, or listen to him complain about Austin traffic on Twitter at Bukowsky. My wine cooler is not working…. Thank you for taking the time to write this interesting and helpful information.
I wish I could say I finish my wine like you, but alas, I do not. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Toggle navigation Learn Call Call Jeff Flowers on July 25, 8 Comments. About Our Team Plagued by a chronic case of curiosity, Jeff Flowers is just a dude that annoys everyone around him with his loquacious goofiness.
Comments My wine cooler is not working…. Thank you kind Sir! Cheers, Kimberlie Sgorrano.
0コメント