How to Store Wine Without a Cork

1. Re-Cork It One of the easiest ways to close a bottle of wine is to use the original cork. Keeping the cork in the freezer right after opening the bottle can help it contract, making it easier to put back into place. Although sometimes, the cork may expand, making it challenging to fit it back in. Try these tricks to make the process easier:

• Wrap the bottom of the cork in wax paper. The wax paper helps to lubricate the cork and allows it to slide smoothly into the bottle. Additionally, it prevents any small bits of cork from falling into the wine.
• Apply steady pressure while twisting the cork slowly as you push it back in. This method helps to reinstall the cork without having to push it hard.

2. Consider using a wine stopper to keep unwanted air out of your wine bottle. There are a variety of options available in many creative designs that can match your personality. Choose a stopper with rubber or soft plastic flanges located near the top, which can be inserted into the bottle neck to create a tight seal and prevent oxygen from entering the bottle. These flanges will bend inward when you insert the stopper and then outward against the glass bottle neck, providing a secure seal.

3.  Consider using a wine vacuum to extend the shelf life of opened wine. These affordable devices remove the air from the bottle and create a vacuum seal with a special topper to prevent oxidation. By minimizing air exposure, the wine can last for several days and even up to two weeks.

4.  Consider an Inert Gas Wine Preserver Although many wine preservation tools are reasonably priced, there is also a more sophisticated option for handling partially consumed wine bottles. With the Coravin, you can enjoy some of the wine without actually opening the bottle. It operates by puncturing the cork so that you can pour out what you want, then replenishing the lost wine with argon gas to prevent oxygen from entering.

Alternatively, you can try Private Preserve, a less extravagant spray bottle of inert gas that you can use to fill your wine bottle before promptly adding a stopper for a less expensive solution.