Claret wine, also called ruby wine, is an alcoholic beverage made from black grape varieties and sometimes blended with wines from other varieties.
It can be served as an apéritif or with food and usually does not age significantly once it’s opened. How long does claret wine keep in the refrigerator with a wine stopper?
What Is Claret?
The wine world has a lot of jargon, but some of it can be fairly straightforward to understand once you know what you’re looking at. Claret is a category that includes several wines—Bordeaux reds are an example.
In general, clarets are soft and easy-drinking wines from red grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Some critics have reservations about using claret as a general term for these wines, because it may imply lower quality than each specific variety deserves.
If you’re drinking French claret, for example, use a wine stopper as soon as possible after opening.
The Shelf Life Of Different Wines Using A Wine Stopper
Red wine will keep for a longer period of time than white wine. You can enjoy it for about a week after you open it, but there are many ways to help your red wine last longer. Some people even consider leaving their corked bottle uncorked after opening it.
Wines with higher tannin content generally have more acidity and more complex flavors. They need to be consumed sooner than wines with less tannin content like Pinot Grigio, because they oxidize faster without proper sealing methods.
The air that comes in contact with an opened bottle of wine speeds up oxidation, so wait too long and you might find your once perfectly drinkable glass has turned into vinegar overnight!
Does a wine stopper keep wine fresh?
The short answer is yes, and you don’t need to spend more than a few dollars on one. The longer answer is that you should purchase a wine stopper with a rubber gasket that fits tightly and snugly into your bottle.
This will prevent oxygen from leaking in while still allowing wine to breathe during its time in storage. If your claret or red wine has been properly stored, it can last for years with proper care—but be aware that opening and resealing bottles of wine will only further reduce shelf life.
What Is The Best Type Of Bottle To Store Claret In
Here’s how long you can keep your claret with a wine stopper: How long does wine last open – How long will an open bottle of wine last?
Unless you are lucky enough to drink from your own personal wine cellar, there’s a pretty good chance that some of your favorite wines have been exposed to light, heat, and air. These three factors may shorten a bottle of red or white wine’s shelf life.
While age-worthy bottles in your cellar probably don’t have an expiration date, most table wines have a best-by date. This is because most wines do not age well once they’re opened.
What Is The Best Way To Store Wines Like Claret
Refrigerate or Leave At Room Temperature? Some wines such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc taste better when served at a lower temperature than others. They’re considered to be Chilled Wines, and should be served around 10-12°C (50-54°F).
Other wines are best served slightly warm, or White-Wine Coolers, with most being best enjoyed at 14-16°C (57-61°F). The majority of reds are Room Temperature Wines, and can typically be stored at 16-18°C (60-64°F) without going bad.
When Should I Drink This Bottle Of Claret And Which Glass Should I Use?
Knowing how long you can safely store a bottle of claret is simple once you know two things: how long wine keeps for in general and how to store it properly. You might be surprised by some of our results, so read on to find out if your claret is past its prime.
For more information on storing wine, check out our guide to Storing Your Wine . The first rule of thumb when it comes to red wine is that older doesn’t always mean better.
In fact, there are many times when aged wines are best enjoyed within a year or two after they’ve been bottled (although we will admit that some wines – especially those with extended aging potential – do get better with age). To figure out if your red wine has aged sufficiently, just look at its color.
Can You Freeze Red Wines Like Claret?
Red wines can be frozen, but they’re not ideal candidates for freezing. The process of freezing and thawing wine will cause considerable damage to their flavor and bouquet.
If you’ve invested in a bottle of red wine and decide to freeze it instead of drinking it, you should go ahead and finish it off as soon as possible after taking it out of storage. While your investment may still be safe, its quality is significantly reduced by a freezable temperature.
Whether your bottle is red or white, bringing wines below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) will negatively impact their flavor. Store both whites and reds at temperatures between 50-55 F (10-13 C) to keep them tasting fresh for longer periods of time.
What does a claret wine taste like?
While there is no real way to answer that, a claret wine is usually considered to be a darker red wine. The color usually ranges from a ruby-red or garnet, to an intense purple or black.
The grape varietals used in a claret vary and are often blended together with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Depending on who you ask though, you might also hear that Pinot Noir or Sangiovese can be included in clarets as well.
What is the best claret wine?
If you’re an aficionado of wine, chances are that you’ve heard of claret. As a general rule, claret is red wine with a clay or red-brown tint. What separates reds from other wines?
The color and body of them course! Red wines are typically high in tannins and resveratrol, which are natural compounds found in grape skins (which is where those dark-colored grapes come from).
These compounds contribute to red wine’s unique health benefits; they’ve been known to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure levels while improving memory and heart health. If that sounds like a pretty good deal (and it certainly does), then check out our guide to choosing your favorite red wine!
Conclusion
Like other wines, claret wine has a fairly short shelf life. Claret should last for about a month after being opened if it’s stored in an airtight container in a cool place. Once you have popped open your bottle of claret wine, you will have to drink it relatively quickly.
If left alone for too long, claret will lose its flavor and its distinct taste will begin to disappear. This means that you must consume your claret within one month of opening your bottle or risk wasting some money on something that is no longer suitable for consumption.
To be safe, try using a wine stopper for storage purposes when your wine is not actively being consumed.
