Wine storage,I am considering http://peksystems.com/store.aspx?prod_id=134&cat_id=1 as a gift for my father’s birthday. He is a big fan of red wines (as am I). Now I know the standard answer to "How should you store your reds after opening?" is in the fridge, and not for long, but we often end up storing our reds for up to a month after opening (usually it will only be 1/8 to 1/4 of a bottle). Some night when we’ve already had a bottle or two, we’ll pull out all the nearly done ones, and finish them off. Unfortunately, this decision often comes towards the end of the evening, so there is never enough time for the wine to get to room temperature.
So here’s the question(s):
A) Since the argon displaces all the air, can these bottles be stored at room temperature?
B) Since we’re storing them for so long anyways, would it make any difference to not refrigerate them?
C) Will the argon help?
Brian – As for the I have to get my Dad something anyways, and figured he might want something other than socks this year. 
And yeah, most of the reds are pretty good.
You got pretty close to the answer I’m looking for, but let me refine my question a bit:
Which is the lesser of two evils: drinking the wine cold or leaving it for a month, argon filled, and in a cool dark place?
Argon refills are reasonably priced. for 4, each lasting 7 bottles on average. This comes out to less than {content}.40 per bottle.
Pontac – I agree that using the stoppers for glass by glass use would probably not be successful for the reasons you have mentioned. But since this isn’t the intended use, I think it should work just fine.
Brian // Jul 23, 2010 at 12:52 pm
a- Not as long
b- Yes, there’s going to be some bacteria that get into the wine as soon as you open it and unless the filling device can remove all the oxygen, they’re going to multiply. The fridge will help, pull the bottles before you drink them to let them warm up.
c- Yes. The best bet is to rebottle in smaller bottles (500ml, 250ml) and to recork or argon-fill THOSE, since there’s less area for the air to sit in and less work for the filler to do. It can be tough to clean/prep all the bottles though.
Personally, unless these are some awesome reds I’d skip the 70 buck corker and drink the rest.
Michelle C // Jul 23, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Actually red wines are not supposed to be refrigerated – go to any bar or restaurant and you will find they do not refrigerate their open bottle of red. Just use a wine stopper.
eddievanhalen // Jul 23, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Being a fan of red wines, you probably know that the arch enemy of wine (and beer for that matter) is oxygen. This unit displaces the air (oxygen) with argon, a neutral gas. Theoretically, the device should work.
I can’t imagine that storing the wines cold will help. As long as there is no air in the bottle, you should be OK.
Edit: keeping the wine cold will not help you against oxydation of the wine. If you want to store open bottles for over a month, then this device is perfect for you.
And BTW – there are no bacterias that become active after opening a bottle of red or white wine.
Pontac // Jul 23, 2010 at 12:52 pm
I’m sure your father will appreciate such a thoughful gift, but check first how much the replacement argon refills cost and how convenient it will be for your father to getthem. Because if you’re going to preserve 1/8 of the contents of a bottle a lot of argon will be needed.
As the cost of these gadgets go, $70 is not bad.
But really, I just don’t believe this device works. They say "Once the stopper is in place, you can pour as many glasses (or even sips) as you’d like without removing the stopper or re-applying the argon gas". OK, so you pour out wine and don’t replace the empty space with gas. So whats filling the space? It isn’t for sure a vacuum; if it was the bottle would implode. It is obvious that the so called "Professional Wine Stoppers" cannot be airtight and oxygen does gets in. However, I think the point is that, since argon is heavier than oxygen is forms a protective layer over the surface of the wine. (Their video shows the argon replacing all the oxygen)
So you must store the wine upright, but every time you pour a glass the wine will be exposed to the oxygen in the bottle.
The video only claims the device will keep wine for days and maybe weeks…..
But if you’re not going to pour glasses while you’re keeping the wine then it may just work for you. $70 and your Dads birthday, why not?
I find it hard to believe you find a wine enjoyable that has been open for a month, but storing it in the fridge is the way to do it. Ok, so the wine is chilled, but cup the glass in your hands and it’ll soon warm up.
We drink red wines way too warm anyway.
(The person who says restaurants/bars don’t refrigerate open red wines is correct, but they don’t — I hope – keep them for a month)