While it is a good idea to open a bottle of wine and allow it to breathe before serving, you do not want to leave the bottle open for an extended period of time. If you plan on enjoying a bottle over several days or if you have leftovers from a party, you can preserve the flavour with the proper wine storage.

Insert the cork

If you have only consumed a glass or two from that bottle, the first important step for proper wine storage is to insert the cork back into the bottle. This will prevent air from reacting with the wine and allowing all those aromas to become dull or for the wine to be affected by other strong odors in the air.

Use smaller bottles

If you have approximately half or less left in the bottle, the best wine storage tip is to transfer your wine to a smaller bottle before sealing with a lid or inserting a cork. The less air in the bottle, the better your wine will be preserved.

Refrigerate

Temperature is also extremely important when storing wine. When unopened, the bottle can be stored at cellar temperature. However, if you have opened the bottle, it is best to refrigerate the bottle until you consume the rest.

Insert a Coravin

Another great option is to insert a Coravin into the place of the cork. This acts as a cork combined with a pourer. It will preserve the flavour and aroma of the wine while also making it easy to serve.

Remember, most bottles hold 750ml which equates to approximately five glasses of wine. If you are enjoying dinner with a friend or your partner, one bottle will be enough for you to enjoy a couple of glasses each. If you have any left over at the end of the night, you can enjoy it another time or you can consider some uses for left over wine such as making a marinade or even freezing to use to chill your next glass without diluting it.