Keeping wine and sparkling wine fresh – how opened bottles last longer

The bottle is open but not empty? No reason to pour the rest away. Wine loses its aroma to oxygen, sparkling wine loses its fizz as the carbon dioxide escapes. The right stopper slows both down – for a few days or several weeks, depending on the method.

What happens in an opened bottle

	Wine	Sparkling wine, prosecco, champagne
Problem	The air in the bottle makes the wine oxidise.	The carbon dioxide rises out of the drink into the empty space in the bottle.
Result	Fruit and freshness fade, the wine turns brownish and smells of sherry, later of vinegar.	The wine goes flat – even with a tight stopper.
Solution	Keep oxygen away: vacuum or inert gas	Put pressure into the bottle: pump or CO2

The methods compared

Method	for	How it works	fresh for longer*
Cork or stopper only	wine, sparkling wine	seals the bottle, the air inside stays	wine 2–4 days, sparkling wine about 1 day
Vacuum pump Wine Fresh	wine	pumps the air out of the bottle	at least 1 week
Inert gas blanket Wine Protector	wine	gas settles on the wine and keeps oxygen away	at least 3 weeks
Stopper with pump Champagne Fresh	sparkling wine	slight counter-pressure keeps the CO2 in the drink	3–5 days
CO2 inert gas Champagne Protector	sparkling wine	repressurises the bottle and displaces the oxygen	at least 3 weeks

* Manufacturer figures for an opened bottle in the fridge; the values without aids are rules of thumb. How long it really tastes good depends on the wine and on how full the bottle still is.

Keeping wine fresh

Vacuum: pumping the air out

A rubber stopper with a valve goes on the bottle, and a small hand pump draws the air out. Without oxygen the wine hardly oxidises – according to the manufacturer, red and white wine stay fresh for at least a week longer. The method is inexpensive, quick and needs no capsules.

Press the stopper firmly into the neck straight after pouring.
Place the pump straight on top and pump until you feel clear resistance.
Store the bottle upright in the fridge. Lying down, wine can get into the stopper and make it leak.

Inert gas: a blanket over the wine

At the push of a button, the Wine Protector lays a gas blanket on the surface of the wine. The gas is heavier than air, stays on the wine and keeps oxygen away – without changing the taste. The wine stays fresh for at least three weeks longer. Ideal for fine wines you enjoy by the glass over a longer period. Refills: wine protection capsules (8 g N2O).

Dispensing under inert gas

With the L’Ami du Vin you pour directly under inert gas: the dispensing head sits on the bottle, and the remaining wine never comes into contact with oxygen. One gas unit supplies any number of dispensing heads – practical when several wines are open at once.

Wine FreshVacuum

Vacuum pump with two stoppers – the easy start for red and white wine.

Fresh: at least 1 week longer
Contents: 1 vacuum pump, 2 stoppers with non-return valve
Good to know: Premium version with brass cap: Wine Fresh de Luxe II.

Wine ProtectorInert gas

Lays a protective gas blanket over the wine at the push of a button – for the longest shelf life.

Fresh: at least 3 weeks longer
Contents: Wine Protector, 4 inert gas capsules (N2O)
Capsules: Wine protection capsules 8 g N2O, pack of 10

L’Ami du VinDispenser

Wine dispenser under inert gas: the remaining wine stays separated from oxygen and keeps its full aroma.

Fits: any wine bottle, stainless steel riser tube adjustable in height
Contents: dispensing head (chrome-plated brass), gas unit, 3 inert gas capsules

Keeping sparkling wine, prosecco and champagne fresh

An ordinary sparkling wine stopper only seals the bottle: the carbon dioxide still rises out of the drink into the empty space until a balance is reached – and that is exactly the fizz missing from the glass. It is better to put pressure into the bottle.

Counter-pressure with a pump

With the Champagne Fresh you pump air into the bottle. The slight counter-pressure keeps the carbon dioxide in the drink – sparkling wine, prosecco, cava and champagne stay sparkling for 3 to 5 days.

Put the stopper firmly on the bottle.
Insert the pump pin into the opening of the stopper and pump two or three times.
Remove the pump and put the bottle in the fridge.

CO2 inert gas for weeks

The Champagne Protector repressurises the opened bottle with food-grade CO2. The carbon dioxide stays bound, and the CO2 also displaces the oxygen – champagne, sparkling wine and cava stay fresh for at least three weeks longer. Ideal for serving by the glass in restaurants, bars and hotels. Refills: special capsules.

Important: vacuum for wine only

A wine pump draws air out – with sparkling wine it would pull the carbon dioxide out as well. For sparkling wine always use a stopper that builds up pressure. The Wine Fresh and Champagne Fresh pumps work in exactly opposite ways and are not interchangeable.

Champagne FreshCounter-pressure

Sparkling wine stopper with hand pump – keeps the fizz in the drink for the next few days.

Fresh: 3–5 days
Fits: common sparkling wine and champagne bottles without screw cap; separate version for Dom Pérignon bottles
Good to know: Extra stoppers work with the pump and with the Champagne Protector.

Champagne ProtectorCO2 inert gas

Repressurises the bottle with CO2 – for weeks instead of days, also when serving by the glass.

Fresh: at least 3 weeks longer
Contents: Champagne Protector, 1 CO2 special capsule, 1 stopper for standard bottles
Capsules: Special capsules, 5 or 25 pieces

Tip Top SealStopper

Clip stopper made of chrome-plated brass for sparkling wine, wine, oil and vinegar: snaps in under the bottle lip and holds tight.

Good for: the bottle you will finish tomorrow
Tip: Remove the decorative foil from the bottle lip, moisten the stopper slightly if needed. Not suitable for the pump or the Champagne Protector.

Five tips for longer-lasting leftovers

Close it straight away. Every minute open costs aroma and fizz – close the bottle right after pouring.
Keep it cold. Oxidation is much slower in the fridge, and cold sparkling wine holds its carbon dioxide better. This also applies to red wine: take it out about half an hour before serving.
Store it upright. The stopper stays dry and tight, and no wine gets into the pump.
The emptier, the faster. A half-full bottle holds far more air than an almost full one. If only one glass is left, drink it soon – or use inert gas.
Look after pump and stoppers. Rinse stoppers with warm water and let them dry. Only wipe the pump on the outside with a damp cloth and do not put it in the dishwasher.

The right serving temperature

If you seal your leftovers well, enjoy them at the right temperature too. As a guide:

Drink	Serving temperature
Sparkling wine, prosecco, champagne	6–8 °C
Light white wine, rosé	8–10 °C
Full-bodied white wine	10–12 °C
Light red wine	14–16 °C
Full-bodied red wine	16–18 °C

For the hospitality trade: wine and sparkling wine by the glass

If you sell wine and sparkling wine by the glass, you cannot afford flat leftovers. Proven for open dispensing:

Champagne Protector for champagne, sparkling wine and cava – fresh for at least three weeks longer, made in Germany.
Wine Protector for fine wines that are not ordered every day.
L’Ami du Vin when several wines are open at once – one gas unit for any number of dispensing heads.

Larger quantities or dealer prices? Ask us.

Frequently asked questions

Does a silver spoon in the neck of the bottle help?

No. The spoon does not hold back any carbon dioxide – if the sparkling wine still fizzes a little the next day, that is down to the cold in the fridge. Only a tight stopper and pressure in the bottle really help.

Can I use the vacuum pump for sparkling wine?

No. The vacuum draws the carbon dioxide out of the wine. For sparkling wine you need a stopper that builds up pressure, such as the Champagne Fresh, or the Champagne Protector.

How can I tell that the wine has gone off?

White wine turns darker and brownish, red wine fades towards brown. The aroma goes flat and reminds you of sherry or nuts, later of sharp vinegar. It is usually harmless to health – and often still fine for cooking.

Why should the bottle stand rather than lie?

Lying down, the wine is in contact with the stopper: it can start to leak, and the next time you pump, wine gets into the pump. Upright, everything stays dry and the vacuum holds.

Do the stoppers fit every bottle?

Champagne Fresh and Champagne Protector fit common sparkling wine and champagne bottles without a screw cap; there are separate stoppers for Dom Pérignon bottles. The Tip Top Seal needs a bottle lip for the clip to snap under. The L’Ami du Vin dispensing head fits any wine bottle.

Which capsules do I need for my Coravin system?

Our argon capsules with 3/8″ thread are an inexpensive alternative to the original capsules. You need the black threaded cap of an original capsule, which you keep using. They are not suitable for the Wine Protector – use the N2O wine protection capsules for that.

Matching products

Questions about stoppers, pumps or capsules? Write to us – we are happy to help. More topics under Good to know.

All information without guarantee. The manufacturers’ operating instructions and notes are authoritative.