Once open, wine typically lasts for a few days. If it goes bad, it may alter in taste, smell, and consistency. In rare cases, spoiled wine can make a person sick.
Wine is a popular alcoholic beverage, but if a person does not store it correctly or drink it promptly, it may spoil.
Many adults of drinking age consume wine, and evidence suggests that moderate consumption may have health benefits. For example, some research suggests that a light-to-moderate intake of wine may protect heart health.
However, excessive alcohol consumption can harm a person’s health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend either refraining from drinking altogether or only drinking in moderation.
The CDC defines moderate drinking as a maximum of one or two drinks per day for females and males, respectively. One drink equates to a 5-ounce glass of wine with an alcohol content of 12%.
By using the correct storage techniques and knowing the signs that indicate wine spoilage, people can avoid drinking wine that has gone bad.
In this article, we discuss roughly how long different wines last. We also list possible signs of spoilage and explain the risks associated with drinking spoiled wine.
Unopened wine has a longer shelf life than opened wine. Therefore, as long as a person stores their wine properly, it can last a fairly long time. Storing wine correctly may involve keeping it in a cool, dark place and placing the bottle on its side to prevent the cork from drying out.
Below is an estimate of how long certain wines will last past the printed expiry date if a person stores them correctly and leaves them unopened:
Opened wine does not last as long as unopened wine because once a person has opened a bottle of wine, it begins to oxidize. When a bottle is open, the wine inside encounters air, which begins the oxidation process. Oxidation can cause wine to go bad and may turn it into vinegar.
Bacteria and other microbes can also cause wine to spoil. If bacteria come into contact with open wine, they can alter its flavor and consistency.
If a person does not intend to finish a bottle of wine, they should minimize how much oxygen and bacteria interact with the wine to make it last longer.
They can do this by placing the cork or screw-top back on the bottle and storing it in a place suitable for the type of wine. For example, people can place white wine in the fridge and red wine in a cool, dark place.
Below is an estimate of how long certain wines may last if a person stores them correctly once they are open:
The first thing that a person can observe is the color of the wine. If the color appears to have changed since opening the bottle, this may indicate spoilage.
For example, a red wine that has gone bad might have a brownish tint, whereas a white wine may darken or have a deep yellow or brownish straw color when it goes bad.
A person may be able to smell certain aromas if wine has gone bad. These can include a sharp, vinegar-like odor, a damp smell, or an odor similar to that of a barnyard.
If the wine has gone stale, this can also change its smell. Some people may describe stale wine as having a nut-like odor or say that it smells similar to burnt marshmallows or applesauce.
Some wine may go bad before a person opens it, which is often due to the wine being faulty. Faulty wine can have a garlic odor or smell similar to cabbage or burnt rubber.
A person should not drink wine that has gone bad. However, in some instances, tasting a small amount is a good way to determine whether the wine is still okay to drink.
If wine has gone bad, it may have changed in flavor. Bad wine often has a sharp and sour taste resembling that of vinegar. It may also slightly burn a person’s nasal passage due to the strong odor and flavor.
In some cases, if wine has gone bad, it may have a strong chemical taste, similar to paint thinner.
Generally, an opened bottle of red wine can last for up to 5 days if stored properly in a cool and dark place with a wine stopper or cork in place to prevent excess oxygen from getting in. For white wine, it can last for up to 3 days under the same storage conditions.
Store corked bottles horizontally
Storing a bottle on its side allows the wine to stay in constant contact with the cork, preventing it from drying out. If the cork does dry out, it may allow oxygen to pass into the bottle, which can spoil the wine.
This type of spoilage can only affect wines in corked bottles, so a person can store bottles with a screw-top upright.
If you decide to throw all caution to the wind and take a sip anyway, you’ll likely notice a number of flavors that feel unbalanced. Oxidized wine typically carries nuttier notes with lackluster fruit undertones. For wines with higher alcohol contents like Shiraz or Zinfandel, you may notice that, after a few days, they taste much boozier than when first opened.
If you fancy yourself a wine drinker, then you know there’s no sadder sound than the “glug-glug” of a bottle being poured down the drain because it sat open for too long. While oxygen is great for “opening up” a wine when the cork is first removed, too much oxidation can lead to bland tasting glass or a vino that tastes like vinegar. While drinking a bottle that’s been open for a week certainly won’t make you sick or have any other adverse effects on your health, whether or not it’ll actually be enjoyable is a different question.
The second a cork is removed from a bottle, the wine inside immediately begins to interact with oxygen, bringing out aromas and flavors suppressed by time. However, too much of anything is never good. As the days go on and your open bottle receives more and more exposure to oxygen, you’ll find that the wine becomes less and less enjoyable.
When it comes to choosing a wine that’ll last you through the week, plan on picking a bottle with higher levels of residual sugars or preservatives like sulfites — sorry, natural wine. For example, Riesling, with its higher levels of sugar, will stay fresh after opening for longer than wines like Grenache or Pinot Noir, which have fewer preservatives and thus spoil faster. In general, high-tannin, high-acid wines with a fair amount of sulfites will last the longest. If you’re worried your beloved bottle may spoil before you have a chance to finish it, there are a number of incredible boxed wines on the market that stay fresh for weeks.
When debating whether or not to drink that week-old bottle, there are few telltale signs to look out for that will let you know if the wine has spoiled. First and foremost, the wine’s color should be enough to alert you if something is amiss — spoiled reds will take on a rusty brown hue while past-due whites transform from lighter shades of yellow to gold or even opaque. If you’re not noticing any differences in color, certain aromas could also signify that your bottle has started to turn. Where fresh wines will have aromas of fruit cut with vibrant acidity, bottles beginning to sour will have sharper, more bitter, almost acetone-like smells. If the nose is enough to take you aback, it’s probably not a bottle worth drinking any longer — but again, it won’t physically harm you if you do.
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FAQ
Can you drink 5 day old red wine?
What happens if you drink red wine 7 days after opening?
Does wine go bad after 5 days?
Can you drink red wine after 1 week?
Is it safe to drink red wine after a long time?
Yes, it’s safe to drink red wine after it’s been open for a while. If it hasn’t been stored properly, it’s unlikely to be harmful, but it might taste sour or like vinegar. This is especially true if the bottle was forgotten about on the kitchen counter for days or weeks.
How much red wine can one drink per day?
Despite the popular belief that a glass or two of vine is good for health due to the amount of resveratrol and polyphenols, the amount of these substances in wine is small, making their benefits to be achieved in the long term and difficult to confirm even in large studies. That way, consumption should not be daily, and the dose would be a glass at most 3 times a week.
How long does red wine last after opening?
Lighter red wine often has a more delicate flavor profile and lower tannin levels. It tends to lose its freshness quite fast after opening because of its lighter structure, which makes it more prone to oxidation. Lighter red wine usually keeps its flavor for one to three days after being uncorked.
How long can you drink wine after opening a bottle?
An ice cube tray also works in a pinch. You can drink red wine up to one week after opening the bottle, but it’s also safe to drink after a week, just not as fresh. The counter is fine when you’re still considering the next glass. The refrigerator is a good place for a week. And the freezer is great for long-term storage.