Opening wine that you can’t finish happens. Whether it was that “final” bottle of wine from the night before or you just got too excited during your last hosting event and opened way more bottles than you can drink. We’ve all been there.
Subsequently,in the days to follow, we’ve all asked ourselves the question, “should I still drink this wine?” Good news, you can! Fortunately, wine is not quite like food, or at least in the sense that it won’t spoil or go bad if it’s not consumed within a certain timeframe. However, drinking opened wine past its suggested shelf life is not as enjoyable as drinking it soon after its opening date.
What to expect if you drink wine past its shelf life?
Drinking wine past its recommended consumption time frame won’t have any harmful effects on the body. You generally won’t get sick or have any side effects but it tastes rather unpleasant. Expect the wine to have a vinegary taste or smell. The initial flavors and aromas may also be dulled.
How long to keep wine once opened?
The shelf life of opened wine varies depending on the type of wine. In general:
- Rose & most white wines should be consumed within 5-7 days.
- Full body white wines like Chardonnay’s should only be stored for 3-5 days before drinking.
- Sparkling wines can be stored and consumed within 1-3 days if used with an appropriate wine stopper.
- Red wines can be kept open out of the fridge in a cool place, corked for 3-5 days. I usually, just put it back in the fridge and let it sit out for about an hour before drinking it.
- Fortified wines, like our ports or sherry, will last 28 days.
- Boxed wines will also last 28 days after opening.
How to keep your wine fresher for longer?
After you open wine you want to limit the wine’s exposure to oxygen, heat, and light. Opened wine should be kept in the fridge with an airtight cork stopper. As a reminder, there are specific wine stoppers designed for sparkling wine so it would be worth your money to invest in a good one. Open wine should not be kept in direct contact with light, i.e. not in front of a window or anywhere with lots of sunlight. In general, keeping wine in the fridge is your best bet all around.
For more information on the best way to store opened wine, check out the videos below!
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