How Long Does Wine Last?

wine 101

By Rachel Thralls, CS

How long does wine keep after it’s opened? This is a very good question and definitely depends on proper storage, closures and the type of wine! Most wine won’t last through the night if the bottle is left open so make sure you don’t leave it out! 

Let’s take a look at different types of wine!

Sparkling Wine:
Sparking wine or Champagne will last 1–3 days in the fridge with a sparkling wine stopper, called a bouchon. Sparkling wines lose their carbonation quickly after opening. A traditional method sparkling wine, such as Cava or Champagne, will last a little longer than a tank method sparkling wine like Prosecco. The traditional method wines have more atmospheres of pressure (more bubbles) in them when they’re bottled, which is why they tend to last longer.

Light White, Sweet White and Rosé Wine:
Lighter white wines and rosé wine will last 5–7 days in fridge with a cork. Most light white and rosé wines will be drinkable for up to a week when stored in your refrigerator. You’ll notice the taste will change subtly after the first day, as the wine oxidizes. The overall fruit character of the wine will often diminish, becoming less vibrant.

Full-Bodied White Wine:
3–5 days in fridge with a cork Full-bodied white wines, like oaked Chardonnay and Viognier, tend to oxidize more quickly because they saw more oxygen during their pre-bottling aging process. Be certain to always keep them corked and in the fridge. If you drink a lot of this type of wine, it’s a really smart idea to invest in vacuum caps.

Red Wine:
Red wines will last 3–5 days in a cool dark place with a cork, or in your wine fridge or refrigerator. The more tannin and acidity the red wine has, the longer it tends to last after opening. So, a light red with very little tannin, such as Pinot Noir, won’t last open as long as a rich red like Cabernet Sauvignon. Some wines will even improve after the first day open. Store open red wines in a chiller or a dark cool place after opening them. If you don’t have a wine fridge, your regular fridge is better than letting the wine sit out in a 70°F room. Just take the red wine out about 10 minutes before you want a glass so it warms up a little. The red wine will also open up in the glass! 

Here are a few tips to preserve open wines for much longer: 

1. Wine preservers work very well for keeping wine after it’s been opened. You can use the cork and push it back in or try Repour which removes the oxygen from the bottle.
2. Store open wines in the fridge (or wine fridge if you have one!). This cold storage will slow down any development of the wine, keeping it fresh. The ideal cellar or wine fridge temperature is 55 degrees.
3. Keep wine away from direct sunlight and sources of heat (like above your fridge or oven.)

Rachel Thralls is a Certified Sommelier and is studying to be a certified Nutrition & Holistic Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. She is the owner of FitSomm Rachel.