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Ever wondered how long wine lasts after opening? Read on to find out how long your wine will stay at its best – whether red white, rosé or sparkling – and how to keep your wine fresh for longer.
The facts at a glance
Here are the approximate times you can keep an opened bottle of the main styles of wine. Always replace the stopper.
Rosé and white wines up to 3 days in the fridge
Red wines 3 to 5 days in a cool dark place
Sparkling wines One or two days, in the fridge
Fortified wines Up to 28 days in a cool dark place
Have you ever wondered how long your wine lasts after opening? We all love the flavours and aromas of a good wine, but no one wants to feel rushed in finishing the bottle, fearing it might go off.
If you’re the sort of person who frets about opened bottles of wine, the good news is that opened bottles of wine won’t deteriorate immediately. So, just how long does wine last after opening? And is it possible to make your wine last longer?
Read our guide to learn the answers to these questions and find our tips to improve the lifespan of your wine.
How long does a bottle of wine last after opening?
Most wines last for 3 to 5 days after they’re opened. They’re still safe to sip beyond this, as they haven’t ‘gone bad’, but you might notice the flavours and aromas getting a bit muted due to the ongoing exposure to oxygen.
Different wine styles have their own timelines. Fortified wines such as Port and Sherry have a bit of an edge with their higher alcohol and sugar levels, staying enjoyable for up to 28 days after opening.
Mature wines are often more delicate and can lose their fruit flavours and balance more quickly. They typically retain their quality for around 1 to 3 days, but their flavours and aromas might deteriorate within a few hours of uncorking.
What makes a wine lose flavour?
When a bottle of wine is opened, it’s immediately exposed to the oxygen in the air. This is known as ‘oxidation’, which changes the taste of the wine. In some wines, like young, full-bodied reds, it can be a bonus, helping to open up flavours. With others, that’s when they begin to lose their fruit flavours.
As time passes, this interaction between the wine and the air can dull the lively notes in the liquid. The once-bright and fruity flavours may lose their vibrance, the colour could shift to a duller hue, and you might even detect a sour note reminiscent of vinegar.
Can you stop wine from deteriorating or ‘going bad’?
You can’t stop wine from losing character once you’ve opened the bottle and left it, but you can slow down the process by taking a few simple steps. First off, when you’ve finished with a wine, reseal it with its cork or screwcap and pop it in the fridge. You can even use the fridge for a red, as long as you remember to take it out in time to warm before your next serving.
For most wines, recorking the wine (or popping a stopper in it) and putting it in the fridge can extend its lifespan to 3 to 5 days.
It’s much less of a problem for fortified wines, which can last up to 28 days after being opened, even when left at room temperature. They will still lose a little flavour, but much less.
Old wines in particular lose a lot of fruit and flavour once opened, even over one evening – they are delicate and need to be treated with care. These are best finished in one sitting. If that’s not feasible, cork it up, keep it cool and have a taste next time and see how it is.
Which wines last the longest?
The lifespan of opened wine will vary based on its style. Here’s our guide to some of the most popular types of wine and how long they last after opening.
Rosé and white wines
You can store an opened bottle of rosé or white wine in the fridge with a cork or wine stopper for a few days. All wines lose a bit of vitality and flavour, but kept cold, many are still a pleasure to drink after, on average, 3 days. After that, you’re probably pushing your luck! Those with higher acidity tend to last longer after opening, but it does vary.
Always best simply to try and see what you think.
Looking for a refreshing rosé to enjoy this summer? Browse our range of rosé wines.
Sweet wines
With a higher sugar content, sweet wines tend to keep their fruit and balance longer than dry whites. Cork your bottle up and pop it in the fridge or use the magic Vacu Vin tool if you have one to hand.
Sparkling wine
The prized fizz of sparkling wine is quick to fade once the cork is popped. To make the most of your bottle of bubbly, seal it with a wine stopper and put it in the fridge as soon as possible. When stored this way, you can expect it to retain the bubbles for about a day or so, depending on the quality.
It’s worth noting that Prosecco has fewer, more delicate bubbles, so it won’t survive as long as other sparkling wines, such as Champagne.
Need a bottle of fizz for your next occasion? Choose from our sparkling wine selection.
Full-bodied white wine
You can typically expect full-bodied white wines to stay in good shape for around 3–5 days after opening, as long as you seal the bottle and store it in the fridge. But some certain styles, such as Muscat or oaked Chardonnay, might oxidise faster, so you should look to drink these within a few days,
For an effective way to prolong the freshness of your opened full-bodied white wine, consider utilising a vacuum cap. This handy tool creates an airtight seal and sucks out the air, effectively shielding your wine from the effects of oxygen and allowing you to relish those full flavours for a bit longer.
Browse our international selection of white wines.
Red wine
How long does red wine last after opening? The good news is that red wine typically retains its quality for 3 to 5 days after opening, particularly fuller-bodied reds. Their higher tannin levels – from grape skins, seeds and stems – contribute to a longer shelf life. By contrast, light-bodied reds such as Pinot Noir may experience a faster decline in flavour, and last three days at most.
To preserve your opened bottle of red wine, seal it with a wine stopper or its original cork and find a suitable storage spot – preferably a dark, cool place or, if possible, in the refrigerator, remembering to get it out in time to warm up. Again, a Vacu Vin will help preserve its flavours.
Shop our extensive range of red wines.
Fortified and dessert wines
When resealed and stored in a cool, dark place, fortified and dessert wines typically last up to 28 days once opened. Some fortified wines, such as Sherry and Port, have a longer lifespan because they contain brandy.
Try a fortified wine now.
Tips for storing opened wine bottles
There are several ways to store open wine bottles to help keep them fresh.
Use a vacuum cap or Vacu Vin style tool
A tool like a Vacu Vin pumps out the air, creates an airtight seal around the bottle and keeps a wine tasting almost as good as when it was first opened.
A clip-on vacuum cap can help keep bubbles in sparkling wine.
Pop it in the fridge
To help preserve your opened bottle, keeping it somewhere within a cool, controlled temperature is key, such as a wine cooler or fridge. While red wine is not typically served chilled like white or rosé wine, its best chance of staying fresh once opened is to be at a constant temperature – ideally around 12°C.
Take your opened bottle of red out of the refrigerator around an hour before you plan to drink it to bring it up to room temperature and make the most of its remaining delicious flavours.
Keep the bottle upright
Store the bottle upright in your chosen cool, dry place. Keeping the bottle upright will expose the wine less to oxidation than if the bottle is stored on its side.
Keep wine out of direct sunlight
Keep your opened bottle away from sunlight as much as possible – too much light exposure can spoil your wine, whether it has been opened or not.
Decant wine into a smaller container
Pouring your wine into a smaller bottle or sealable container will help reduce the risk of oxidation. With less space in the container and a smaller surface area for your wine to interact with the air, there is less chance for your wine to spoil.
Creative ways to use leftover wine
While you now have a general idea about how long wine lasts after opening, you may be unsure about what to do with an unfinished bottle (apart from polishing it off!). If you have some leftover wine, why not experiment with wine-based cocktails, such as a refreshing Sangria?
Your leftover wine could also be a delicious addition to your next recipe. Red wine can add a depth of flavour to the sauce of a red meat dish or most casseroles, veggie or meaty, while white wine’s delicate acidity will complement a white-based sauce for chicken or fish.
About the author
Chris Larkin
A seasoned copywriter with over two decades experience, Chris has been part of the team since 2021. At Laithwaites HQ, you’ll find him either working on our latest catalogue or creating informative content for our website. Qualified to WSET Level 3 Wine, Chris is as geeky about wine as he is about copywriting. But when it comes to choosing a special bottle, he is a traditionalist, and loves a good Bordeaux or Mâcon Chardonnay.
