How Long Can I Keep a Bottle of Wine?

After a long day, relaxing with a glass of wine is a great treat. An added benefit of wine is it comes in various flavors, which means there is a wine out there for everyone. Some people are wine connoisseurs and buy wine and keep it in their homes to access at the drop of a hat. This is a great practice, especially if you host dinner parties or have friends and family. When beginning this ritual, though, many wine lovers wonder, how long can I keep a bottle of wine?

An unopened bottle of wine can last 1-20 years, depending on the type of wine. An opened bottle of wine can last between 1 and 28 days, depending on the wine.

Now that you know your wine has a relatively long shelf life, it is important to understand the difference between each type of wine and how long it lasts. We have a breakdown below to help you understand the difference.

Unopened Wine

If you store your wine in a cold, dark place, it will last longer than stored in direct sunlight or a warm and humid environment. Wine kept in a cellar or similar storage space can last well past its expiration date. Here is a breakdown of how long properly stored, unopened wine can last:

Wine Type	Safe to Consume Date
Red Wine	If stored properly, red wines, like Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Merlot, can last between two to three years after its expiration date.
White Wine	White wines like Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, or Riesling, can last up to one or two years after the expiration date if stored properly.
Cooking Wine	Cooking wine, like Marsala, Moscato, or Vin Santos, can last three to five years after the expiration date if stored properly.
Fine Wine	Fine wines, like Chambertin Grand Cru,  Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petrus, can last for ten to twenty years when stored in a wine cellar.

 

Opened Wine

If you have a bottle of wine you want to open, but are hesitant to do so because you are not sure how long it will take you to drink it, don’t worry, we have you covered. Different wine types last for different periods once they are opened. Below we have all the possibilities covered so you can spend more time relaxing and less time worrying:

Wine Type	Must Consume Within
Sparkling Wine	This wine can last one to three days after it is opened. It should be stored inside a refrigerator, and it should have a special sparkling wine topper for the best flavor.
Light White and Rosé Wine	This type of wine can be stored in the refrigerator with a cork for five to seven days after it is opened.
Full-Bodied White Wine	This type of wine can last between three to five days when stored in a cool, dark place. The stopper should be a cork for best results.
Fortified Wine	This type of wine should be stored in a cool and dark place. If stored properly, it can last up to 28 days after being opened.
Bag-In-A-Box Wine	This wine should be stored inside a refrigerator once opened. If stored properly, it can be consumed for up to 28 days.