So the inevitable has happened and you opened one too many bottles for you and your guests to finish.
But fear not!
All it takes is a simple recorking of the bottle and your wine can live to serve you the next day, or even the day after that.
How To Recork Wine?
Recorking a bottle of wine is a simple case of resealing an opened bottle of wine to help preserve any leftovers inside.
Simply put a stopper in the neck to reseal the bottle and there you have it, a recorked wine!
So why is it recommended to recork wine?
Why Should You Recork Wine?
We’ve all been there and been faced with a bottle of opened wine that you wish was still closed.
Here are some of the common reasons why you may need to recork a bottle of wine:
- You opened the wrong bottle by mistake.
- You didn’t like the taste of the wine but you want to save it for someone who you think would like it instead.
- You simply didn’t finish the bottle over dinner.
- You opened the wine to cook with and want to save the rest of the wine for future recipes
- You were at a party where lots of wine was opened but not all of the wine was drunk by the end.
Leftover wine is a part of life and luckily for you there are lots of ways to reseal any wine you may be left with, for whatever reason.
5 Ways To Reseal a Bottle of Wine?
Here are 5 ways we recommend recorking a bottle of wine once it has been opened:
1. Cork
Sometimes it really is as simple as placing the original cork back into the bottle.
Just check that your cork is still intact and isn’t going to deposit any debris back into the wine.
A broken cork may also let oxygen in, so it's good to check the cork is still in one complete piece.
2. Wax Paper
If the original cork no longer fits inside the bottle then try cutting a small square of wax paper that will fit around the cork.
Then, using the wax paper as a lubricant of sorts, place the bottle on a solid surface and slowly twist the paper covered cork back into the bottle until the wine is fully sealed again.
3. Paper Towel
If you’ve thrown the cork away or the cork has broken in all the excitement then fear not.
You can make a makeshift cork out of any paper towels you may have lying around your house.
Simply fold up your paper towel and roll it up until it is the same size as a cork. Seal the towel with tape and then slowly twist it inside the neck of the bottle, making sure not to tear the paper in the process.
This is a temporary method and can work well until you find yourself one of the following options.
4. Rubber Stopper
A rubber stopper is a really good store bought option for resealing your wine, meaning you don’t have to worry about broken corks or pieces of paper.
They’re available from most kitchenware shops and it's always handy to have a rubber stopper or two on hand for when the occasion arises.
5. Vacuum Pump
Last but not least we have the vacuum pump.
Not only will this seal the wine but the manual pump option will help you to remove any oxygen in the bottle, helping to preserve your opened wine for longer.
So once you’ve resealed your open wine, where is the best place to store it?
How To Store an Open Bottle of Wine
Storing your open wine with care and consideration can help to make your leftover wine last longer, giving you more time to enjoy the bottle.
Here are some tips for careful wine storage:
- Store the wine bottle in a cool, dark place. Keep it calm and away from any light disturbances.
- Simply chill the wine in a refrigerator
- Try and keep the temporary consistent where you can, a wine fridge works well here.
- Keep the bottle upright to avoid any spills or leakages.
But do all wines oxidise at the same rate? Or are there some wines that will oxidise faster?
Which Wines Oxidise Fastest?
When it comes to storing opened bottles of wine it can be helpful to know which wines have a tendency to oxidise faster than others.
You can make sure to drink those wines first!
As a rule, red wine tends to oxidise at a slower rate than white wines.
This is because of the pigments and colour present in the red wine.
They work as an antioxidant which means that red wine takes slightly longer to spoil.
So if you have both red and white wine leftover always try to consumer your white wine first, as it has slightly less time to keep than your red wine.
Before You Go...
We hope this answers any questions you may have on how to recork wine.
If you want to learn more about other types, consider our related blog posts:
If you have any more questions, or would like to talk to us about how we can help you store your wine at home, please do not hesitate to email us: info@expertwinestorage.co.uk
Expert Wine Storage can help you find a luxury wine fridge to store your precious wine collection.
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