So you’re straightening up after that little soiree, and you’ve got a half-drunk bottle of Cabernet and an almost-full bottle of Pinot Grigio on your hands. What to do? Well, first of all, don’t throw the stuff out. Wine can keep for a few days in the fridge, so pop a stopper in each and stick them in with the leftovers. (If at all possible, try not to store the super pungent leftovers—especially garlicky ones—near the wine. Although the stoppers will protect it from most scents, treating your opened wines to a nonsticky fridge can’t do any harm and may do some good.) Both red and white wines can be kept cold after opening; but before you drink the red, let it warm up to room temperature (or about 65 degrees Fahrenheit). How long can you keep opened wines? Here’s a handy little chronology to follow:

Day One: Not as good as the day before, usually, but most wines will still be eminently drinkable. Still okay to serve to guests—but make sure you taste first, just in case.

Day Two: Going downhill quicker than Ben and J.Lo’s engagement. Just polish the thing off, for the love of Pete! Get someone to come over and help with it, if need be.

Day Three: If anyone’s drinking it at this point, it should be you and only you. Or someone you really don’t like.

What about keeping sparkling wine or champagne fresh? Ah, if we only could inject it with a magical Fountain of Youth serum! Alas—and we’re being realists, not pessimists—sparklers are dying from the minute you open them. Those tiny, fragile bubbles fly up to the surface of the wine as soon as it’s exposed to air, and the more time it’s exposed to air, the flatter the stuff becomes. Thus, you really should drink the entire bottle of sparkling wine. (Yes, we know it’s a chore.) If, for some reason unknown to us, you should have some left over, seal it with a wine stopper and drink it the next morning with brunch. Feel free to doctor it up with orange, cranberry, or pineapple juice.