02/20/06 Monday question - Recorking your wine

Welcome to Vine to Wine. This is your host Linda Moran. I am often asked how to store a bottle of wine that is half full? Recently we received an email asking that question so on today's program we'll talk about saving leftover wine. I have tried all of the latest gadgets that promise to suck the air out of the bottle and recork it at the same time, all of the fancy closures, and the gases that you can inject into the air space of the half empty bottle. My conclusion is that most of the time it wasn't worth the expense. For me, if I want to save the remainder of a bottle of wine, whether it is red or white wine - I will simply reinsert the cork and put it in the refrigerator or another appropriately cool place. Often when the wine is good, but I know I will not finish drinking it the next day, I will cover the cork and neck of the bottle with plastic wrap. That keeps it from absorbing any weird smells in the refrigerator. Now when it comes to champagne I have a friend who makes and sells bubbly he has carried a bottle around with him all day and once it's opened in the morning he keeps it chill but doesn't close it up - and it's still bubbling and frothing away at 6:00 just in time for an evening sip before dinner. But I admit; when I have to put my bubbly in the frig overnight that doesn't work. So - I employ a champagne stopper. You can buy them in most wine shops and maybe even in the wine department of the grocery store. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.