How Long Wine Lasts Once Opened
On the rare occasion that a bottle isn’t finished in one sitting, it’s handy to know how long the rest will last. We’ve all been there, when you have wine left in a bottle and find yourself contemplating whether it’s still enjoyable after a few days. With Brits alone pouring away a staggering 624 million bottles of the good stuff every year (yes, you read that right…), it’s time to find out how long wine lasts once it’s been opened so we can put a stop to waving goodbye to perfectly good wine.
Why an open bottle of wine goes bad
As soon as a bottle of wine is opened, oxygen is let in and it becomes gradually oxidised. This is what makes a bottle of wine go ‘bad’. An oxidised wine will often have a vinegary smell and taste – it won’t make you ill but it certainly won’t taste too nice!
Bacteria can also enter an opened wine bottle and affect the smell and taste. Again, this won’t hurt you but may make your wine far less delicious. If you’re unsure whether or not your wine has gone bad then check out our in-depth article on how to spot faults in wine.
Storing your wine properly, both before and after it’s opened is the best way to prolong the life of your wine.
How long an open bottle of wine lasts
For all the info you need in one handy image, check out our infographic below. Or scroll down for a more detailed look at how long each style of wine lasts for once it’s been opened.
Red wine
Red wine will stay fresh for different periods of time dependent on the style. Generally speaking, those with less body and lower tannins don’t last quite as long as those with a fuller, richer body.
For lighter reds such as Beaujolais or Pinot Noir, these are best kept in the fridge with a cork and often last around three days.
For fuller-bodied reds such as Malbec or Shiraz, these can last nearer to five or six days due to the higher tannins and the slightly higher alcohol levels these varieties tend to have, which slow the ageing process. In fact, full-bodied reds sometimes taste better on day two or three once the wine has had a chance to ‘breathe’. It’s still best to keep these in the fridge once they have been opened but just make sure you allow the wine to reach room temperature before drinking it.
White wine
Much like with red wine, the amount of time white wine can be kept for varies depending on the style.
Lighter whites, such as Sauvignon Blanc, tend to keep the longest with most being fine to drink for five to seven days if kept in the fridge with a cork (which helps to maintain freshness). Over this time, however, you’ll notice the taste change slightly as the wine oxidises. The fruitiness of the wine is likely to diminish, with the flavours becoming slightly less vibrant. It’s therefore best to aim to enjoy light whites within five days.
Richer whites, on the other hand, such as oaked Chardonnay and Viognier, often oxidise a little quicker, mainly because they are in contact with oxygen for longer during their ageing process. As a result, these wines are best drunk within three to five days with a cork.
If you frequently drink this richer style of white wine, it’s worth investing in a gadget which can be fitted to the top of the bottle and removes any air from inside, creating a vacuum. There is plenty of these on the market and they can help keep wine fresher for days longer!
Rosé wine
Rosé can be treated in a similar way to light white wines. Once opened, pop a cork in the top or screw the cap on tightly and place these in the fridge.
It will keep fresh for around five days, although if you’ve got a bolder blush such as White Zinfandel you may notice the flavours changing over this time. The bright fruit flavours found in these sweeter rosés will begin to soften and become much more subtle as the days pass. So, the sooner you can sip and savour those last few delicious drops the better!
Sparkling wine
Sparkling wine can lose its fizz pretty quickly once it’s been opened. It’s therefore pretty important to store it correctly so you can make the most of your bottle of bubbly.
The best way to store sparkling wine is in the fridge with a Champagne bottle stopper. These special stoppers help to create a tight seal inside the neck of the bottle, preventing the bubbles from escaping as quickly. If stored in this way, you can expect your fizz to last up to three days.
Some can last a little longer than this, specifically traditional method sparkling wines such as Cava and Champagne, as these are bottled with a higher atmospheric pressure, creating more bubbles and, ultimately, a fizzier wine. These can therefore last in the fridge for an extra day or two.
Fortified wine
Fortified wines, such as port and sherry, can last considerably longer than standard wine. The higher alcohol found in fortified drops means they can last for 28 days when stored in the fridge, or a cool, dark place, with a cork.
Madeira and Masala are exceptions to this 28 day rule. Rather surprisingly, they can last for years once opened because of the heating and ageing process they have been through. These sorts of wines are best kept somewhere cool and dark, but not necessarily in a fridge – a kitchen cupboard will do the job perfectly.
So, next time you find that opened bottle of wine in the fridge, think twice before you pour it away because it may still be very enjoyable! Of course, it’s always important to assess the wine and look out for any vinegary smells or ‘off’ colours as these can be signs that it’s past its best. If it still looks and smells great, that’s your green light to give it a little sip to confirm it’s ok.
