If you've ever been disappointed by a bottle of wine that was opened and then left to languish on your counter, you don't want to let that happen again. In general, white, rosé, and sparkling wines tend to go bad faster than red wines.
The below list details how long different types of wine last once opened:
- Sparkling wine: <1 day
- White wine: 2 - 4 days
- Rosé wine: 2 - 4 days
- Red wine: 3 - 6 days
- Fortified wine: 1 - 3 weeks
Storing wine correctly can be tricky, but there are several ways to preserve wine to retain freshness and taste. Argon gas is the best method that gives long-term preservation to your bottle. Let's look at why you should use argon gas to preserve wine and how it keeps the wine taste and aroma better for longer.
Wine Oxidation
Oxygen can have both positive and negative effects on wine, depending on how much of it is present and how long the wine is exposed to it. In small amounts, oxygen can help to develop and enhance a wine's aromas and flavors. During aeration, small amounts of oxygen can help to soften tannins and promote the development of desirable flavors and aromas. The Coravin Aerator instantaneously aerates wine and is equivalent to decanting for 60-90 minutes - opening the flavours and complexity of the wine.
On the negative side; when wine is exposed to “too much” oxygen, it causes the wine to spoil and lose its flavor and aroma. Oxidation causes the wine to lose its fresh fruit flavors and aromas and develop stale or nutty notes. It can also cause the wine to turn brown in color and develop a vinegar-like taste.
What is Argon Gas?
Argon gas is often used to preserve wine because it is an inert gas, which means it does not react with other substances, including the wine. When argon is inserted into an opened bottle of wine, it displaces the oxygen in the bottle, and creates a protective layer above the wine. This layer helps to maintain the wine's original aroma, flavour, and colour for a longer period of time; in the case of Coravin: 4 weeks with a Pivot device, and weeks, months, or even years with the Timeless.
How is argon gas used to preserve wine
Once a bottle of wine is opened, it is exposed to oxygen, which can cause it to spoil quickly. This is why it's important to consume an opened bottle of wine within a few hours (maybe days, if you’re lucky) or to preserve it with methods such as using argon gas.
Argon is heavier than oxygen and creates a barrier between the wine and the air, preventing oxidation from occurring and preserving the wine's quality. Argon gas is safe to use with wine because it is non-toxic and does not affect the taste or aroma of the wine. It is commonly used by wine enthusiasts, restaurants, and wine bars to preserve opened bottles of wine and reduce waste.
Unlike other wine preservers, which only delay the oxidation of your wine, the Coravin Wine Preservation System is designed to pour wine without removing the cork, so wine always tastes like it has just been opened—even years later. The non-coring Coravin Needle gently passes through corks without displacing cork material. Once the Needle is removed, the cork simply expands back to its normal shape. As wine is extracted through the Needle, it is replaced with pure Argon gas, ensuring oxygen never touches the remaining wine, keeping it as fresh as the day it was bottled.
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Wine Preservation Devices
- Re-corking is the simplest and most familiar approach. It offers minimal protection and usually keeps wine drinkable for only a day or two.
- Vacuum pumps remove air from an opened bottle. This extends freshness slightly longer than re-corking, but flavor and aroma still degrade within a few days.
- Inert gases such as argon or nitrogen can be sprayed into an open bottle to displace oxygen. This method helps preserve wine for up to two weeks.
- Coravin Pivot® wine by-the-glass system goes further. Designed for everyday enjoyment, Pivot works with a specially designed Stopper to reseal the bottle. As you pour, the system replaces the wine with 100% Pure Argon gas, already trusted in winemaking to protect color, taste, and aroma. Bottles stay fresh for up to four weeks.
- Coravin® Timeless™ wine by-the-glass system is a different kind of innovation. Using a precision-engineered needle, it lets you pour without pulling the cork. Pure Argon gas then shields the remaining wine from oxygen, so the rest of the bottle stays as fresh as the first sip — not just for weeks, but months or even 20+ years.
Argon gas is considered to be a better option than other methods of wine preservation, such as vacuum pumps or wine stoppers, because it does not require the removal of air from the bottle, which can sometimes cause unwanted changes in the wine's flavour and aroma.
Overall, argon gas is a popular choice for wine preservation because it is effective, easy to use, and does not negatively affect the quality of the wine. Overall, the Coravin provides versatile tools that can benefit a range of individuals, from casual wine drinkers to wine professionals. It allows you to enjoy a glass of wine from a bottle without having to open the entire bottle. This makes it an ideal device for wine collectors, wine enthusiasts, restaurants and wine bars, as well as wine professionals.
For more information about Coravin’s wine-by-the-glass systems visit our Comparison Chart. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @Coravin for tips, tricks and more!