ShelfLife
How long does wine last after opening?
An opened bottle of wine keeps 1 to 3 days in the fridge, by the USDA's guidance, before its flavor fades. Unopened, everyday red wine keeps 3 to 5 years and white wine 1 to 2 years, stored dark and cool.
| Food | Fridge | Pantry |
|---|---|---|
| Red wine | —Opened: 1–3 days | 3–5 years |
| White wine | —Opened: 1–3 days | 1–2 years |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if wine has gone bad
- A vinegary, sharp or nail-polish smell: the wine has oxidized and is turning to vinegar.
- A flat, dull taste, or a nutty, sherry-like note in a wine that shouldn't have one.
- A brownish color in red wine, or a deep gold to brown color in white wine.
- Unexpected fizz in a still wine, or a cork pushed out of the bottle. A musty, wet-cardboard smell means the wine is "corked": not harmful, but not pleasant.
How to store wine
- Keep unopened bottles somewhere dark, cool and steady, away from heat and sunlight. Store bottles with corks lying down so the cork stays moist.
- Most everyday wines are made to be drunk young; only some are made for long aging.
- After opening, recork the bottle and keep it in the fridge, red wine included. Take red out a little before serving.
- Less air in the bottle means slower oxidation: pour leftovers into a smaller bottle, or use a vacuum stopper.
Can you freeze wine?
Not for drinking, but leftover wine freezes well for cooking. Pour it into ice cube trays or a freezer bag and add the cubes to sauces, stews and risottos. Don't freeze a full bottle: the wine expands and can push out the cork or crack the glass.
Questions
Can you drink wine that has been open for a week?
It's unlikely to make you ill, but by then it has usually oxidized and tastes flat or sour. Use it for cooking if it still smells like wine, or throw it out if it smells like vinegar.
Should red wine go in the fridge after opening?
Yes. Cold slows oxidation for red wine as well as white. Take it out 20 to 30 minutes before drinking.
How long does cooking wine last?
Salted cooking wine keeps until the date on the bottle, in the pantry or the fridge.
Add opened bottles to ShelfLife, and get a reminder to finish them, or cook with them, in time.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.