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How long does good wine last? -

Once opened, wine immediately starts to oxidize, meaning that the beverage will fade in color and lose its potent taste. The shelf life depends largely on the type you’re using. Generally, red wines hold up better than whites, and aged varieties outlast younger ones. Young wines last for three to four days, and older wines for about a week. The exceptions are dessert wines and port, which can last up to a year after being opened.

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How to store leftover wine? -

If you're not going to use your leftover wine right away, store it tightly sealed in your fridge with the original cork or a wine stopper for the appropriate time, depending on the type of wine.

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Trap fruit flies -

If you've got a bottle of red wine that's gone bad, simply pour about a quarter cup into a glass, cover the top securely with plastic wrap, and poke a few small holes. This will attract and trap annoying fruit flies.

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Use it as an all-natural dye -

Most people are used to accidentally spilling red wine on their clothes, but it actually works great as a fabric dye. So join the tie-dye movement by using your leftover vino!

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Make a wine facial serum -

Wine can help exfoliate skin and provide valuable nutrients. Next time you have leftover dry red or white wine, try making a luxurious anti-aging facial serum. It will leave your skin glowing!

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Fertilize your plants -

Wine can actually give your plants a boost. If you've got any leftover red wine, add about four teaspoons of it to some water the next time you need to water your plants. The nitrogen in red wine will help your garden grow. Just make sure it's not wine that has gone bad, as it may damage the roots of your plants.

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Artisanal vinegar -

Pour any red wine into a jar of non-pasteurized vinegar and leave it alone, stirring weekly. Within a couple of weeks, you’ll have your own vinegar.

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Wine vinaigrette -

Leftover white wine serves as an excellent fresh-tasting salad dressing or sauce for fish, chicken, or vegetables. All you need is to mix up the wine, lemon juice, honey, oil, salt, and pepper.

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Wine marinade -

The best is to use red wine for red meat, white or rosé for chicken, and white for fish or tofu. When you're done with the marinade, don't throw it out! You can cook it down in a saucepan until it’s thick, and add it to the finished dish for extra flavor.

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Add wine to your tomato sauce or gravy -

As the wine flavor will cook out, the sauce will take on a richness and depth that wasn’t there before. But if you want to incorporate the wine taste, mix it in a few minutes before you intend to serve it.

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Red onion and wine marmalade -

Make a delicious red onion and wine marmalade. Caramelize this potentially blood pressure-regulating veggie in a reduction of wine, vinegar, and butter, and you'll soon have a delicious sweet and savory mixture to serve on crackers at a cocktail party.

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Make a delicious sauce -

Make a delicious sauce with white wine, butter, and garlic. This traditional mix works beautifully with seafood dishes like steamed mussels and shrimp scampi.

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Boost your soups and stews -

White and sparkling wine work best in creamy or clear brothy soups, while red wine goes well with tomato or beef-based varieties. Just add a few generous splashes per portion.

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Fluffy eggs -

Add any sparkling white wine like champagne, prosecco, or cava for fluffy omelets. While you’re beating the eggs, pour in approximately one tablespoon of bubbly for every two eggs.

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Drunken pasta -

Got a bottle of red opened? Make this delicious pasta that spends half its cooking time in water and the other half soaking in a bath of red. Then you just need Pecorino Romano cheese, basil, and garlic to complete the recipe.

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Poach fruit -

Make some delicious poached fruits in red wine. Pears, apples, peaches, or plums are great options. Just let the fruit simmer in red wine and sugar for 10 minutes, and you'll have a delicious treat!

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Red wine chocolate truffles -

Red wine and chocolate is a combo that always works perfectly together. Use whichever red wine you have left over, and the results will be a smooth, rich, melt-in-your-mouth treat.

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Sangria by the glass -

You can make a small batch of both red wine sangria and white wine sangria with leftover wine. Just mix what you have left with the necessary ingredients, and you'll have a delicious glass of sangria!

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Freeze it -

Pour any remaining wine into ice cube trays for short-term storage. It's a quick and practical way to flavor boost your sauces, glazes, or stews.

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Wine syrup -

Yes, you can make syrup out of white wine! You can then use the sweet syrup on ice cream, fruit, or even breakfast foods such as waffles or pancakes.

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Wine jelly -

Take your wine syrup to another level by turning it into wine jelly. It's the perfect treat to serve with cheese at your next party. Your guests will leave impressed!

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Adult wine ice pops -

Mix a little wine, some crushed up fruit, syrup for sweetness, and you've got an adult sweet treat. Just make sure you don't mix them with your kid's popsicles!

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Take a bath -

Red wine baths have been a popular spa treatment for several years. This is because red wine contains resveratrol, a potent antioxidant that has been scientifically proven to treat sun damage and the effects of aging. So adding a bit of booze to your next bath will only provide smooth skin and plenty of other benefits!

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Anti-aging facial mask -

And if wine works wonders on your body, why not put some on your face? A wine-based facial mask will not only repair sun-damaged skin, but it'll also remove impurities.

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Clean your fruit -

Resveratrol can also kill bacteria that causes food-borne illness, like salmonella and E. coli. So after rinsing your fruit with water, run a little leftover red wine over for some extra cleanliness.

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Get rid of grease stains -

If you ever have some white wine left over, use it to clean pesky grease stains in your garage or driveway. The acid and alcohol will do its magic, and if you add a bit of baking soda then it will be even more powerful.

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Tackle red wine stains -

The next time you spill some red wine on your carpet or clothes, get some white wine to help clean up the mess. While it won't completely remove red wine stains, it will actually help lessen the damage thanks to the enzymes present.

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Use white wine as a disinfectant -

As white wine kills food-poisoning culprits like E. Coli and salmonella, it makes for an excellent disinfectant. The alcohol and acidity help to remove stains, and it's a better alternative than  standard cleaners, which typically contain harsh chemicals.

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Decorate your home -

And if your only leftover is the actual wine bottle, then use the empty vessel as a beautiful flower vase or candlestick. It makes for cheap but pretty decor!

Sources: (Reader's Digest) (Greatist) (LoveToKnow) 

See also: Unusual ways of using fruit in your savory meals

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