There is a saying that goes: drink a glass of red wine every day, and do not seek medical treatment in good health. That's true, but what if you leave a big bottle of unfinished wine? Of course, find a way to save or use it for other purposes! So, how to preserve the leftover wine? What else can they be used to do?
First, the 5 preservation methods of open bottle wine and its pros and cons
1. Re-tuck the oak stopper back
(1) Supporters
This is simple, and some wines also benefit from direct contact with the air, so re-stuffing the cork and leaving it for 24 hours should be no big deal. During this time, the wine oxidizes more quickly than before opening the bottle, resulting in a soft and harsh taste and firm tannins and sharp acids. This approach is particularly applicable to young red wines from the Old World (e.g., Spain, France and Italy); in addition, some sweet wines such as Sauternes and Barsac and Tokaji benefit from this laissez-faire approach, as they are more sugary and therefore less prone to over-oxidation.
(2) Opposition
Not all wines can withstand long-term oxygen intrusion, after all, more fragile wines such as Pinot Noir or old wines still need careful care to not deteriorate. Otherwise, prolonged air infusion can easily lead to excessive oxidation.
2. Savino glass bottle
Savino Carafe is the new darling of the wine circle and a great way for professionals to preserve open wines. Usually, after the wine is poured into the bottle, the surface of the wine is covered with a suspended solid to isolate the air (pictured above). This method is indeed very practical, and a similar principle is often used in some large stainless steel containers to eliminate excessive oxidation.
Savino glass bottles are indeed very practical, but the price is not very affordable. In addition, after use, it is generally divided into 5 separate parts, which is more troublesome to clean, unless you don't mind.
3. Private storage spray
Private Reserve Spray can spew out some mixed inert gases, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide and argon, which are heavier than air, so spraying it into the open bottle can squeeze out the air, and when the cork is closed, it can prevent the wine from oxidizing and extend its life by 2-3 days. And this method is simple and convenient, and a tank of inert gas can sometimes be used hundreds of times.
The price of this spray is not cheap, and the service life of some sprays is not long. In addition, it's hard to be sure that the gas injected is enough to drain all the air out. When too much, it is easy to cause waste; too little will cause oxidation, which is not very good.
4. Nitro suppository system
The NitroTap System consists of a faucet and a regulator connected to a recyclable nitrogen tank. The built-in nitrogen system drains the air while keeping the wine fresh.
If it is used for private storage, then this set of equipment is too luxurious, after all, such a thing costs nearly 100 US dollars (500 or 600 yuan).
5, do not open the bottle of wine artifact
Coravin's biggest advantage is that you don't need to open the bottle to drink wine, which sounds cool! When you want to drink, you only need to insert a very thin hollow needle into the oak cork and use the injection of argon to drain the wine into the glass. This way, you don't have to worry about wine oxidation.
Not to mention the need for more than $300 to purchase such a set of equipment, the possible bursting of the bottle when used alone is frightening. Even if it doesn't explode, the use of this equipment requires many practices, and if it is overpressed, the poured wine may splash around before entering the cup, and even bubbles.
In general, the above methods have their pros and cons, and everyone can choose the most convenient and practical one. If you are too troublesome, it is better to put the cork directly back into the refrigerator! Of course, the best way is to drink them all, call three or five friends, and worry about a bottle of wine can not be solved?
Second, how to make clever use of leftover wine?
Sometimes if you can't finish drinking and don't want to keep drinking, you can still do this...
1. Make delicious red wine and salt
(1) Required items
1.5 cups of coarse salt, a large bottle of leftover heavy wines such as Zinfandel, Bordeaux Blend or Cabernet Sauvignon, small pans, baking sheets and jars.
(2) Specific practices
Pour the wine into a saucepan and heat to a boiling point, then reduce the heat until the wine turns into a thick viscous liquid. Once it has cooled at room temperature, pour a cup of coarse salt into the pot, stir gently until the salt is completely dissolved in the pan, and add another half cup of salt until dissolved. Transfer the salt to a sheepskin baking sheet and let it dry for 3-4 days before storing it in a jar when it is completely dry.
2, make a delicious red wine syrup
2.5 cups of red/white wine, a glass of sugar, a medium saucepan, etc.
Bring the wine and sugar to a boil in a pan, then simmer over low heat until you see the syrup-like mixture, turn off the heat to allow it to cool naturally, then place it in a bottle and place in the refrigerator for two weeks.
If your taste is special enough, you can also add spices such as vanilla beans, cloves, cinnamon and even turmeric. This syrup works perfectly with many fruit desserts and can also be used to marinate roasted carrots and meats, among other things.
3. Make red wine vinegar
A glass jar, a bottle of good vinegar, leftover wine, shiva or paper towels, etc.
Pour the vinegar and wine into a clean glass jar, then cover it with a piece of muslin and secure it with gum. Store at room temperature for 10 days and stir once a day, then remember to try it once a day until you are satisfied.
Of course, if you feel that the taste is a little underwhelming, you can continue to add some wine to it. Sometimes, a small amount of sediment may accumulate at the bottom of the glass jar, and you only need to remove it carefully with a spoon.
4. Other uses
The above method is good, but it is troublesome to implement, in fact, there are many other wonderful uses for drinking leftover wine.
(1) Directly used as a cooking condiment
Pouring leftover red wine into the refrigerator's own ice cube and putting one or two pieces of it in the pan when cooking will become more flavorful and delicious; even oxidized white wine can be added to seafood to taste.
(2) Wash vegetables and fruits or disinfect kitchen utensils
Wine is a natural fruit and vegetable cleaner, because alcohol can dissolve impurities on the surface of fruits and vegetables, and other ingredients can also kill many pathogens in food. At the same time, alcohol can also remove stains from the surface of kitchen utensils and disinfect tableware. However, it should be noted that it is best to choose white wine to avoid staining red tableware.
(3) Beauty and beauty
Red wine is rich in antioxidants and tartaric acid, which has the effect of disinfecting, softening and hydrating the skin, so it can be used to make a red wine mask, or add it in warm water that usually bathes and soaks feet. (Text:Vivino)