How Long Does Wine Last? The Ultimate Guide

Did you know that people have been cultivating wine since before the time of the ancient Romans? Today, the development of wine technology and transportation has allowed us to enjoy any type of wine from any part of the world. But there is still a question that needs to be answered: How long does wine last exactly?

The answer will depend on what kind of wine you’re dealing with and whether or not the wine bottle is still sealed. Keep reading to learn more about wine’s lifespan and how to get your wine to last longer.

How Long Does Wine Last? Red Wine

Many people think that the longer you have wine, the better it will become, but this is not true for all types of wine. Instead, only fine wine will get better with age. Wine of average quality will eventually expire and go bad.

Red wine, for example, will only last about 3 years after its expiration date as long as the bottle is left unopened. However, the wine will only last this long as long as you take care of the bottle. That means storing the bottle in a cool, dark area on its side. That way, the bottle’s cork will stay wet and will be able to create a better seal.

After this time period, red wine will eventually go bad. There are several ways you can tell whether or not your wine has gone bad. For example, the color of red wine will turn brown. This is due to the wine’s exposure to oxygen.

The wine’s smell will also change. Red wine usually has hints of berries, leather, and sometimes some savory flavors. Bad red wine usually smells smoky or burnt. If you open the red wine bottle, it will only last about a week before going bad.

White Wine

White wine tends not to last as long as red wine. Usually, it will last around 2 years past its expiration date. It might last longer if you store it in a cool, dark place such as your refrigerator, basement, or cellar.

If you open the bottle of wine, it might only last 5 days before the taste starts to go bad. You will be able to tell that your white wine has gone bad by the color since it will turn golden after a while. It may also start to smell like vinegar if it is past its expiration date.

Fine Wine

Fine wine lasts much longer than any ordinary bottle of white or red wine. In some cases, it can last as long as 20 years or even more. After so many years, fine wine will still be drinkable, but some of its flavors and tastes may start to warp and become less appealing. Fine wine may only last 10 years if you don’t store it properly.

Since fine wine is of high quality and very expensive, wine storage is no joke. Preferably, you should keep fine wine away from light as much as possible. As mentioned before, be sure to store the wine bottle sideways. Finally, make sure the environment for storage is on the colder side. If the room is too warm or humid, it may end up damaging the wine.

Once you open your bottle of wine, it will last for about a week, but preferably, you should consume it as soon as possible. You wouldn’t want an expensive bottle of fine wine to go to waste!