Friends have called me a variety of nicknames over the years. Some of them I like, some of them I deny and truthfully, some of them I have earned!
The one nickname that hits the bull’s-eye is the one I received from my friend, Jeff, who I have known since high school. He knows my pension for being a fastidious, neat person. He labeled me “Tossy” – as in “he tosses everything out if it isn’t nailed down.” Guilty as charged.
I cannot explain this condition of mine, other than to say I can quickly assess whether something will be useful to me in the next five minutes, five days, five weeks or five years. Abhorring the “pack rat” syndrome, my instinct is to get rid of it if I do not need it. If something is missing at our office, my co-workers’ first response is “check to see if David threw it out.”
When it comes to an open bottle of wine, I am in a quandary. I love wine and do not want to waste it, but then alter ego Tossy jumps into the picture and I become susceptible to pouring good wine down the drain.
There is hope, not for me and my condition, but for you should you find yourself with an open bottle of wine.
Oxygen is both friend and foe to wine. When you open a bottle of wine, the exposure to air can do good things. For a young wine, this means allowing the wine to breathe, literally bringing oxygen into the wine so it can release aromas and help soften the tannins. For an older wine, the risk is a bit greater. These wines are more susceptible to quick declines in structure and flavor the longer the wine is exposed to air.
Most of the wine we buy is meant to be consumed within a few years. These sturdy wines will certainly last anywhere from one to three days after opening. There are some things you can do to make sure the wine does not depreciate too fast and that the essence of the wine can still be enjoyed.
Refrigeration is one way to slow down the process of oxidation. After you open a white or red wine, place the unused portion in the refrigerator. Like most foods, lower temperatures help combat the chemical reactions that make wine undrinkable. Remember to pull out the red wine about 20 minutes before you plan on drinking it or serving to guests so it will warm to a desired temperature.
There are some other ways that you can prolong the life of wine. One way is to purchase a hand-held vacuum device. These can be found in most supermarkets or liquor stores. A rubber or plastic cap, also called a bung, is placed over the bottle opening. A pump is then affixed over the bung, and you simply try to pump the oxygen out of the bottle. Think of those FoodSaver commercials on late-night television. The same principle is applied – by pulling out the oxygen, your food or wine will stay fresh longer.
Decanting the wine into a smaller bottle may also work. Most wine is purchased in 750ml bottles. You can purchase some wines in half-bottle or 375ml sizes. Keep one or two of these around. The idea of decanting to a smaller bottle is to decrease the amount of oxygen that the wine is exposed to.
Another way is to use an inert gas like nitrogen. You can purchase a can of this compressed gas in most wine stores. By applying a quick squirt into the bottle, the nitrogen forms a layer of protection between the wine and the oxygen that seeks to alter its composition. Most cans of nitrogen will gas 50-60 bottles. Do not be fooled by the weight of the canister. Because it is compressed gas, the canister will always feel empty. Be careful, someone named Tossy might come by and throw it out, thinking it is empty!
We all have subjective views on whether these attempts at preserving wine are effective. Try these methods out and let your palate decide.
I have all these remedies in my household. Sometimes I use them, sometimes I do not. If I am down to few bottles of wine in my house, you can bet I try the preservation techniques. If I am stocked well, I tend to think of other ways to use the wine, perhaps in a recipe for dinner the next night.
If you start to find a pattern of half-open bottles around with a great degree of frequency, start inviting friends over for dinner. Additional companions will help alleviate the problem, too!
Cheers!
P.S. I am free most evenings in case anyone needs assistance!
