Does Wine Expire? (4 Signs of Spoilage, 3 Important Wine Storage Tips)

If you’ve ever looked at an old wine bottle and wondered - “Does wine expire?” - you’re not alone!

Like other food and beverages, wine doesn’t last forever. 

While unopened investment-worthy wine can last for years, the same rule doesn’t apply to an opened wine bottle.

In this article, we’ll answer the all-important question, ‘does wine expire?’. We’ll also cover how long an opened or unopened wine bottle lasts, four tell-tale signs of spoilage, and three tips for proper wine storage.

Does Wine Expire?

Short answer:Yes, wine does expire. 

Your wine’s shelf life depends on several factors, such as the vintage, wine preparation method, and storage technique. These variables make it difficult to determine exactly when your wine can expire. 

However, it's safe to assume that most easy-drinking, everyday wines aren’t suitable for cellaring. Table wines are generally lower in quality, inexpensive, and unfortified, which is why it’s best to consume them when they’re young and fresh. 

On the other hand, a bottle of age-worthy, fine wine can be kept for years, depending on how well you store it. 

In a gist, an unopened bottle of fine wine can last for years if it’s stored properly. 

But, the days of an opened bottle of leftover wine are numbered! 

Read on to find out how long opened and unopened wine bottles last. 

How Long Does an Opened Wine Bottle Last?

The shelf life of an opened wine bottle depends on the type. Usually, lighter wines go bad much faster than darker wine varieties.

But, why does wine go bad? 

An open bottle of wine comes in contact with oxygen, heat, light, and bacteria. This can cause chemical reactions that affect your wine’s quality. 

The bacteria begin to break down your wine, making it acidic and sour. Additionally, exposure to oxygen turns wine into vinegar over time.

Here’s a list of common wines and an estimation of how long they’ll last once opened:

• White wine:White wines like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Moscato can be consumed for 3-5 days after they’re opened. 
• Red wine: Red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Shiraz, retain their flavor for 3-6 days after opening. 

• Fortified wine: These wines, including Port and Sherry, have a higher alcohol and sugar content. They stay fresh for 4-5 weeks after they’re opened. 

• Sparkling wine: Sparkling wines like Moscato and Prosecco are popular for their fine bubbles. And since drinking Champagne or Sparkling Wine without them isn’t fun, you should consume your wine within 36 hours.

• Rosé wine: Rose wines can last for 3-5 days when opened.  

• Dessert wine: Dessert wines like Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Chenin Blanc can stay fresh for 3-7 days after opening. 

• Cooking wine:Cooking wines like dry Vermouth can last for 1-2 months if refrigerated. 

How Long Does an Unopened Wine Bottle Last?

Since a sealed bottle of wine doesn't come in contact with excess oxygen, bacteria, and heat, it has a longer shelf life than an opened bottle of wine. 

You can consume these wines past their printed expiration date as long as they smell and taste okay. 

Here’s a list of common types of wine and how long they’ll last unopened:

• White wine: An unopened white wine can be consumed 2 years past its printed expiration date.

• Red wine: They retain their flavor 2-3 years past their printed expiration date.

• Fortified wine: High-quality fortified wines can last for over 20 years. This is because a fortified wine is already preserved with an added distilled spirit, like brandy cognac or vodka.

• Sparkling wine: Unopened sparkling wine can last at least 3 years past its expiration date.

• Rosé wine: Like sparkling wine, Rosé can last for about 3 years when unopened.

• Dessert wine: Dessert wine (unless it’s fortified) is made to drink right away and can only be stored for under 5 months.

• Cooking wine: Cooking wine can last for 3-5 years past its printed expiration date.

4 Warning Signs of Wine Spoilage

You can’t throw away a whole bottle of wine without being sure that it has gone bad. For starters, if your wine has been in contact with air for too long, it has probably oxidized and gone bad. 

Here are four other signs that can tell you if your wine is no longer in prime condition:

1. Wine Cork

A dry wine cork is the first sign you should look for. If your wine cork is dry or is slightly pushed out from the top of the bottle, the air has probably seeped into your wine bottle and turned it to vinegar.

2. Wine Color

Another tell-tale sign of wine spoilage is its change of color. Relatively newer vintages of red wine can turn brown and white wine can take on a yellowish-brown color.

Additionally, If your unopened bottle has tiny bubbles, the wine has gone through unplanned fermentation during winemaking (this occurs when high temperatures kill the yeast during the winemaking process.)

3. Wine Smell

Smell your wine to check for wine faults like cork taint. Cork taint is caused by aromatic compounds in the cork material that get transferred into the wine after bottling. 

A spoiled wine affected by cork taint will smell unpleasant like a wet dog, wet cardboard, or nail polish remover.

4. Wine Taste

The final sign of a spoiled wine bottle is its taste. Wine affected by cork taint can taste like mold or mildew. Oxidized wine can also taste like vinegar and have sharp acidity. 

In either of these scenarios, it’s best to discard your wine. 

Will Drinking Expired Wine Make You Sick?

Tasting some faulty wine won’t cause you any harm, but that doesn’t mean you should drink it.

However, in addition to oxidation, old wine can also go bad from increasing yeast and bacterial growth. This can cause an upset stomach, abdominal pain, and nausea.

Therefore, if you come across bad wine, regardless of whether it’s open, it’s best to discard it.

Let’s now look at some best practices that can help you preserve your unopened wine bottle for a longer time. 

3 Best Practices to Make Your Wine Last Longer

With unopened wine, there’s a lot you can do to help retain its flavor and aroma. 

Here are the three best wine storage tips for an unopened wine bottle:

1. Find a Cool, Dark Space

Although the dark glass of your wine bottle helps block sunlight, UV rays can still penetrate the glass and affect your wine’s quality.

That’s why it’s important to store your wine away from direct light and at a consistent temperature, usually between 50-60 degrees.

If you don’t have a wine cellar or a cool basement, you can consider purchasing an inexpensive wine cooler to store your bottles.

Tip: You can also opt for boxed wine to make your wine last longer. While it’s less traditional than bottled wine with a cork, with box wine, the drink is stored in a bag-in-box (BIB) design that protects it from the sun. 

2. Maintain The Right Humidity

A cork is porous and can easily dry out and shrink in size. This can let air and bacteria seep into your wine. A dried-out cork can also contaminate your wine with cork particles. 

You can prevent your cork from drying out by storing your wine in a humid environment.

3. Store the Bottle Sideways

If you want to store your aging wine for a prolonged period, typically more than a year or two, make sure to keep the bottles lying sideways. 

This storage method helps your wine cork stay moist and prevents it from drying out.

Tip: If you find it challenging to reuse corks for your leftover wine, you can opt for a wine stopper. Like corks, a wine stopper can prevent oxidation. 

Celebrate Your Next Occasion with a Bottle of Wine!

Like any other food or beverage, wine can expire. 

Drinking shortly after the purchase is the best way to enjoy your wine in most cases. However, depending on the wine type and storage methods, you can make your wine last longer. 

If you’re a wine lover looking for an investment-worthy wine, check out Vinovest. It’s a leading AI-based wine investment platform that will help you easily source, store, and sell fine wines.