Dr. Vinny’s Wine Care Clinic: Top Tips for Safekeeping Your Wine Bottles
Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And don't worry, I'm no wine snob—you can also ask me those "dumb questions" you're too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And don't forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.
I recently sat down for my annual review of Dr. Vinny’s most popular questions of the year, and I was struck by how often I’m asked about basic wine care. There’s so much fear and confusion out there that you might think a bottle of wine was a ticking time bomb! So I gathered together all of my best tips for wine storage, opening a bottle, proper serving temperatures and more. Have a safe and happy new year, and I look forward to answering all of your questions in 2023—you can catch me here each week, and also on every episode of Wine Spectator’s new Straight Talk podcast!
Wine Storage Tips
For a complete guide to proper wine storage, check out our Wine IQ section and our 7 Wine Storage Basics.
• Once chilled, must a bottle of wine stay chilled? Is it ruined if it warms up again?
• If I chill a bottle of Champagne but don't open it, can I put it back in my cellar?
• I left my wine in a hot car. Is it ruined?
• How long does box wine last?
Wine Serving Tips
Once you’re ready to open a bottle of wine, check out our Top Tips for Opening a Wine Bottle and guide to How to Choose the Right Wineglass. (And if you think your wine might benefit from some air, our Decanting 101 primer has all you need to know!)
And we’ve got you covered for proper serving temperatures and how to achieve them, too!
• What happens to leftover wine overnight?
• Is it safe to drink a glass of wine that sat out overnight?
