How Long an Open Bottle of Wine Stays Fresh in the Fridge, According to Wine Pros

• Keeping open bottles of wine corked in the refrigerator will help preserve their freshness.

• Wine doesn't actually go bad in a dangerous way, but likely after three or four days, it will start to lose its structure and energy.

• To determine if a wine is still "good," all you need to do is give it a taste!

There comes a time in many wine drinkers' lives when having leftover wine is more common than finishing a bottle—at least that's the case in my house these days. Unless we're having people over, my husband and I always have a partial bottle to store after opening a fresh one.

Unless it's one of my favorite mineral-y chardonnays , sometimes an open (but corked) bottle stays in our fridge for over a week. I usually give up on it after a few days, but my husband perseveres until every drop has been drunk. (He spent years drinking his Italian father's homemade wine, so his tastes may be more... generous, so to speak.)

It got me wondering how long an open bottle of wine is actually good for and the best way to store it to extend its lifespan. I spoke with a few wine pros to get their advice.

Meet Our Expert

• Austin Hohnke, owner of Big Nose Full Body , a wine store in Brooklyn, New York

• Maximilian Ortiz, winemaker at Trivento in Mendoza, Argentina

• Tamy Rofe, wine director at Colonia Verde in New York City

How to Store an Open Bottle of Wine

If you have a wine fridge, that's the best place to store an opened bottle. But, for the rest of us, the regular refrigerator works just fine, says Austin Hohnke, owner of Big Nose Full Body. "Once wine is opened, exposure to oxygen makes it want to turn to vinegar, so the fridge is a great way to preserve some freshness."

This includes red wine , not just white and rosé, says Maximilian Ortiz. "Store the bottle upright to reduce the surface area in contact with oxygen."

If you are drinking a red you stored in the fridge, let it sit out for a half hour or so before serving, so it isn't ice cold, recommends Tamy Rofe, wine director at Colonia Verde. "If it's too chilly, the wine's fun quirks might not come out."

How Long Does an Opened Bottle of Wine Stay Good?

First, let's get this out of the way. Wine doesn't actually go bad in a dangerous way. "Wine doesn't typically become hazardous to health like spoiled food can. Alcohol, acidity, and phenolic compounds inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms," says Ortiz.

Instead, it just starts to smell and taste unpleasant—like vinegar. But, when does that happen?

It depends on the wine's style, structure, and storage conditions, says Ortiz. "As a general rule, wines with higher alcohol, tannins, and sugar tend to have greater stability after opening."

In Rofe's view, three days is generally a bottle's limit, but she agrees that there's no hard and fast rule. "Wines have a life of their own. Some wines could use a little oxygen to open up and actually taste better on day two. Storing opened wine is an experiment—a nice way to get to know another facet of that wine, another side of its personality."

Hohnke is on board with Rofe's timing. "Typically by day three or four, a wine is losing its freshness, structure, and energy." He notes, though, that boxed wines are the exception. "Most modern boxes are vacuum sealed and can keep the wine fresh for a full month once opened."

How to Know If a Wine Is Still Drinkable

There's only one way to find out—take a sip! "A wine is still drinkable if you like the taste," says Rofe. "It's really that simple. If it has gone bad, you'll know because you just won't enjoy drinking it."

But, if you'd like to be a bit more systematic about it, Ortiz suggests a quick sensory evaluation. First, have a look. Don't be put off if the color has changed somewhat. "Slight browning due to oxidation isn't uncommon." Cloudiness, though, may indicate that the wine is past the point of no return. Next, give the wine a sniff. If you're getting fruit, floral, or spice notes, proceed! But, if you're smelling vinegar or aromas that remind you of nail polish remover or wet cardboard, you might want to move on to another bottle, he says.

In the end, Hohnke says it's all about your palate. "If you think the wine still tastes good, then keep drinking it." It really is as simple as that. Cheers!

Read the original article on Real Simple