How long does wine last after opening?

Have you ever wondered how long you can keep an opened bottle of wine before it goes bad? If you don’t finish a bottle in a single session, will the leftover wine taste bad when you pour another glass?

If you’re concerned about the best way to store wine and keep the freshness of an opened wine, we’re here to put your mind at ease. The good news is that wines don’t spoil immediately once opened, so there is no need to rush through an open bottle.

Check out our guide below for practical tips on extending your favourite wine’s lifespan.

How long does a bottle of wine last after opening?

Much depends on the type of wine, but most wines last for 3 to 5 days once opened before they start to taste bad. Fortified wines such as Port and Sherry can last up to 28 days after opening.

Wines that have been aged are usually more delicate and may decline in quality more swiftly after uncorking. With the right storage conditions, they usually last 1-3 days after opening. However, it’s worth noting that their flavours might begin to alter just hours after opening the bottle.

What makes wine lose its flavour?

As soon as a bottle of wine is opened, the wine comes into contact with oxygen. This triggers a process called ‘oxidation’, affecting the wine’s taste.

When a wine bottle is opened, oxygen from the air starts interacting with the wine, triggering the oxidation process. This resembles how an apple slice turns brown once exposed to air.

This process can be initially beneficial for some wines, such as young, robust reds, as it can help to enhance and mature the flavours.

However, over time, exposure to oxygen can eventually spoil the wine, causing it to lose its vibrant flavours and freshness, and its colour may fade, often gaining a brownish hue. The taste might turn sour, even resembling vinegar over time.

Can you stop wines from deteriorating or ‘going bad’?

While it’s impossible to prevent wine from losing its quality once the bottle has been opened and left, you can take steps to slow down this process. After drinking, reseal the wine with its original cork or screw cap and store it in the fridge. This applies to red wines, too, as long as you give them time to reach room temperature when next serving.

Resealing and refrigerating the wine can usually extend the wine’s taste for about three to five days. This is less of an issue for fortified wines, which can last up to 28 days after opening, even when stored at room temperature. They still may lose some flavour, but much less than other types of wine.

Aged wines lose their fruit flavours and balance quickly once opened, sometimes within just a few hours. Due to their delicate nature, they require careful handling and should ideally be consumed in one sitting. If this isn’t possible, the best approach is to recork or reseal the wine, keep it in a cool place and recheck it before any subsequent servings.

How long do fortified and dessert wines last after opening?

If resealed and kept in a cool, dark place, fortified and dessert wines can generally maintain their quality up to 28 days after opening. Some fortified wines, like Sherry and Port, can have a longer lifespan as they contain brandy.

Five tips for storing opened wine bottles

Did you know it’s possible to keep your opened wine bottles fresh longer with minimal hassle? Here are our top tips.

1. Store it in the fridge

To keep your open bottle of wine fresh, store it in a cool place, like a fridge, even if it’s red wine. If you plan to drink red wine, take it out about an hour early to warm up to room temperature.

2. Keep the bottle upright

Store the wine bottle upright in a cool, dry place. Keeping the bottle upright will expose the wine less to oxidation than if the bottle is stored on its side.

3. Avoid direct sunlight

Store your opened bottle away from direct sunlight to avoid light spoiling your wine.

4. Use a vacuum cap or sparkling wine stopper

Keep your wine away from oxygen in the air to make it last longer. So, remember to reseal it with the cork or screw top. Even better, use a wine preserver, vacuum cap or gas-based systems such as Coravin, as these create a really tight seal. This keeps the air out and helps keep the fizz in sparkling wine.

5. 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 oxygen, there is less chance for your wine to spoil.