How To Recork Wine Bottle Like a Pro?

For those of us who relish wine, finding ourselves with an unfinished bottle of wine is a familiar situation, whether it is celebrating a milestone or spending a snug evening watching movies. Thankfully, a tried-and-true method exists to preserve the precious essence of this cherished drink: Re-corking!

When you recork a wine bottle, you're actually helping to preserve the great taste of the leftover wine. This means you can enjoy it just as much even after you've opened it once before. The best part being, anyone can do it by following a simple guide, no matter how oopsie-doopsie they are in their vinous affairs.

What Does It Mean To "Recork" a Wine Bottle?

There is a whole lot of buzz around recorking a wine bottle, but what is it exactly? A little stress on the word would say it all for you. Recorking a wine bottle means to re-cork it, to replace its original cork with a new one once it has been opened to preserve its quality.

Is “Recorking Wine” The Same As “Resealing Wine”?

“Not All Resealing is Recorking, But All Recorking is Resealing.”

No, recorking and resealing wine are two different things, even though they are sometimes used interchangeably, because they both aim to preserve opened wine bottles by tightly closing them. In contrast to recorking wine, which involves replacing the original cork with a new one, resealing refers to any action performed to tightly close the opened bottle, including recorking, the use of a wine stopper, wax paper, paper towel and a screw cap.

Why Is a Wine Bottle Recorked?

There can be various intentions that can make one to recork their wine, but the primary reason is to preserve the wine’s quality. By putting in a fresh cork, you can keep your opened wine from getting damaged, which could happen if you use the old cork, which usually gets damaged or falls apart when the bottle is opened.

Additionally, recorking is particularly crucial for wines that are meant to be aged for a long time. But trust me, that’s usually a job for a professional, and the recorking tips and tricks that are scattered across the internet come in handy to folks who simply wish to preserve their leftover wine for a while.

What Damage Can Happen If Wine Bottle Is Not Recorked Properly?

If the wine bottle is poorly recorked, it can put the wine’s quality at risk by causing several potential damages, depending on the wine’s composition and the environment in which it is placed.

Oxidation: Improper recorking can create certain gaps that would allow air to enter the bottle, leading to oxidation. This can be jarring to the wine’s quality, with stale aromas, faint flavors, lost freshness, and an unlikely change in color.
Carbonation Loss: In the case of sparkling wines like champagne and prosecco, poor recorking can cause a loss of carbonation, turning them flat and little to no longer enjoyable.
Leakage: In the event that the wine is not recorked airtight and is then not placed upright, it can lead to leakage, leading to a mess and a potential stain or damage to the surrounding area.
Buildup of Pressure: Now this can sound contradictory, but poor or improper recorking can also cause pressure buildup in sparkling wines. It can happen when the sparkling is recorked at a high temperature, is not airtight, or is done improperly enough to trap the residual carbonation.

Does Recorking Improve The Quality or Taste Of The Wine?

Excuse my dark humor, but why do we opt for healthy lifestyles? To postpone death and not defeat it, right? Similarly, recorking wine does not directly improve its quality or taste but extends its life by resisting any potential damages that come with improper closure.

How To Recork a Wine Bottle Like a Pro?

In the little background of life, not everyone is a great cook but sticking to a recipe really helps. Similarly, recorking a wine bottle might seem a headache to you, with the fear of delaying it, facing friction while inserting the new wine cork or what not. But fret not as our wine recorking guide has you covered with step-to-step guidance on how to close wine bottle.

Step 1: Grab the Essential Tools: The correct recipe for how to recork wine is to first grab the right tools so you can perform each task at precision. The essential tools to recork a wine bottle are a wine opener and a quality cork. Make sure that the cork is clean to avoid any contamination, is undamaged and is not tainted at all.

Step 2: Remove the Existing Cork: To remove the existing cork, take a reliable wine opener, such as a traditional corkscrew or a lever-style opener, center it, and twist it until the entire cork is out. Perform the step carefully to avoid the odd situation of pushing the cork inside the bottle.

Step 3: Inspect the Removed Cork: Sometimes the cork is not of bad quality and does not need to be replaced. So, assess the quality of the extracted cork and, if there are no signs of damage or deterioration, reuse it confidently.

Step 4: Prepare the New Cork: If you choose to use the new cork, soak it in a container of warm water for 5-10 minutes. This will allow the cork to soften and slip in easily into the bottle later on.

Step 5: Insert the New Cork: At this crucial step, dry off your soaked cork gently and hold your bottle carefully to avoid any injury and at a slight angle for an easier insert. Align the cork with the bottle’s opening and gently push it until it is right in the middle.

Step 6: Test the Seal: After you have inserted the cork, look if it is done tightly and snuggly or not. Hold the bottle upright and check for any gaps between the cork and the bottle's neck. If there is no such gap, head to storing the wine bottle or redo the inserting part.

Step 7: Store the Wine Bottle: After successful recorking, it is important to know how to store the open bottle of wine. The ideal way is to place the bottle upright in a dark and cool place for better preservation, and yes, your regular kitchen fridge will work.

Is Recorking Red Wines Different From Recorking White Wines?

Yes, white and red wines are corked in the same way in order to preserve their quality by replacing the old cork with a new one. However, wine professionals consider specific factors such as aging potential, sensitivity to oxygen, and flavor profiles to ensure optimal preservation and development of each type.

Is Recorking Champagne Bottles Different From Recorking Red and White Wines?

Now the gap between the recorking method of red and white wines may be slight but it is literally bridge wide with sparkling wines. The primary reason is the presence of carbonation in the champagne, making recorking a more sensitive affair with fear of leakage and maintenance of fizz.

In case you are recorking a red or white wine bottle, stick to the aforementioned guidance and in case of champagne or any other sparkling wine, follow these steps.

Step 1: Gently remove the wire cage that holds the cork and make sure to not shake the bottle whilst doing this to prevent any carbonation from escaping.

Step 2: Tilt the bottle slightly to eliminate any excess gas slowly and be cautious, as the pressure can possibly push the cork out at high pressure.

Step 3: Once the excess gas has escaped, grip the cork firmly with a towel and remove it carefully.

Step 4: Slowly rub the lip area to remove any residue and then slowly insert a new cork into the bottle. Make sure to use a quality mushroom-shaped cork that is designed specifically for sparkling wines and, if possible, you can soak the cork prior to insertion here too.

Step 5: After recorking, reapply the wire cage to secure the new cork.

Is Recorking Wine Necessary For All Types of Wines?

Nope, it is not necessary to recork bottles for all types of wines because most wines are sealed with long-lasting corks that allow them to develop gracefully with time. For everyday wines, recorking is suggested only when they show signs of cork degradation or leakage.

However, there are certain types of wines that may necessitate frequent recorking due to unique characteristics or production methods. Here are a couple such examples:

Sparkling Wines: Sparkling wines, such as champagne and prosecco, are carbonated wines which can cause corks to gradually lose their integrity over time. As a result, sparkling wines may need to be recorked frequently to preserve their effervescence and combat oxidation.
Sweet Wines: When exposed to air, sweet wines remain at higher risk of microbial activity and spoilage with their high sugar content. That’s why it participates in the group of wines that need to be recorked time to time.
Age-Worthy Wines: Age-worthy wines are produced in a manner that lets them develop for a long period of time. These wines benefit from the slow and controlled exposure to oxygen through the cork. So, to ensure that these valuable beauties don’t lose their style as they age, it is recommended to re-cork any possible chance of oxidation.

What Can I Use Instead Of a Cork For a Wine Bottle?

If you wish to find an alternative to recorking a wine bottle, then you can confidently choose other resealing wine options. The most recommended options are a wine stopper and a wine preserver. They will impressively create an airtight seal in the bottle, helping to combat oxidation and preserve the freshness of the wine.

How Long Should a Recorked Wine Be Stored Before It Deteriorates?

Most of the wines are not designed for long-term storage and then deteriorate after some time of recorking. So, in case, you have recorked your everyday wine and you wish to prove its quality, repack it correctly and store it upright in a dark, cool place and sip it within 1-2 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Can you put a cork back in a wine bottle?

Yes, you can put a cork back in a wine bottle if there are no signs of damage or deterioration to the cork.

How do you reseal a cork wine bottle?

To reseal a cork wine bottle, simply insert the cork firmly and use a wine stopper to ensure it is snugly in place.

Can you fully Recork wine?

Yes, you can fully recork wine by replacing the old one with a new one. This won’t just preserve your wine’s quality but also protect the bottle from leaking or accidentally breaking.