Martha Stewart: Wine lovers want no air apparent

Dear Martha: How do I preserve wine left over from an opened bottle?

A: To keep leftover wine fresh, store it in a cool place and limit its contact with air. Refrigeration is a good idea - it will slow oxidation and curb the organisms that can spoil the wine, says Andrew Waterhouse, chairman of the department of viticulture and enology at the University of California, Davis. (Bring red wine to room temperature before serving.)

Two products - vacuum pumps and inert gas dispensers - reduce exposure to air, giving you a few extra days to enjoy white wines and up to a week for some sturdier reds. (To keep sparkling wine bubbly, use a pressurized stopper made expressly for effervescent quaffs.) A vacuum-pump kit extracts air from an opened bottle with a hand pump, using a reusable rubber stopper that creates a tight seal (such as Vacu Vin, about $15); some models alert you with a click when it's time to stop pumping. The devices remove as much as 80 percent of the air, Waterhouse says.

The other product uses inert gas, which is sprayed into a bottle before it is resealed. Heavier than air, the gas sits on the wine's surface and acts as a protective buffer. The vapor can include a mix of nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide (as does Private Preserve, about $10); sometimes it's just nitrogen or argon. One canister can preserve 50 to more than 100 bottles, depending on the brand.

A low-tech option is filling a smaller vessel - a clean, empty half-bottle (375 milliliters) or jar - with the remaining wine soon after opening; this cuts the air-to-wine ratio. Pouring aerates the wine a little, so transfer it carefully and then secure the stopper or lid.

Dear Martha: Which upholstery holds up best in a household with a cat or dog?

A: Every pet owner dreams of furniture that repels hair, resists tearing and can be cleaned easily. One material with these qualities is leather. One expert suggests looking for top-grain, semi-aniline leathers. These are made from the most durable portion of the hide. Scratches are disguised on such pieces because the hide is dyed through - not just on the surface - and then treated with a pigment that provides additional protection and color consistency. And leather now comes in many colors, so there is no reason to stick to brown.