Does Wine Go Bad? (Why, 4 Warning Signs, How To Store Wine)

by Anthony Zhang

Does wine go bad? How long can an opened bottle of red, white or sparkling wine last?

How do you store opened and unopened bottles without ruining the delicious flavors?

If these are your burning questions, you’ve come to the right place!

This article dives into whether wine goes bad, tell-tale signs to look out for, and how to store an open and unopened wine bottle. We’ll also tell you which wines age well and a super-easy way to buy these bottles.

Further reading

Thinking about aging wines as an investment? Find out everything Investing in Fine Wines in this detailed guide.

Dive into the world of heavenly white wines from France and explore the flavors of Sweet Sauternes and Elegant Chardonnay.

Does Wine Go Bad?

Yes. An open bottle of wine will lose its flavor and aromas and turn to a vinegar taste if left open for a few days. Some just taste like grape juice, depending on the wine style, winemaking method, and of course, the way you store wine.

Unopened wine, however, can last beyond its expiry date and can be drunk if it looks, smells, and tastes fine. Some high-quality fine wines can last for decades when stored under proper conditions in a cellar.

Cooking wine can last for 2-4 years beyond its expiry date.

Let’s look at why wine goes bad - a fine wine or a cooking wine.

Why Does Wine Go Bad?

The most common reason for wine going bad is oxidation. Exposure to oxygen for more than 2-3 days triggers chemical changes in the wine.

The alcohol in it breaks down to produce acetic acid. This acetic acid gives the wine a vinegar taste.

There could be a few reasons why your wine went bad:

You didn’t drink the opened wine fast enough. Leaving a wine bottle open for more than three days will cause a sour smell and a ruined flavor.
The cork has become dry. It lets the air seep into the bottle that results in oxidation.
Another reason for spoilage is wine storage. Incorrect wine storage will ruin the taste of good wine and make it smell like a wet dog.
Or, it can be the fault of the winemaker itself (due to microbial growth in the winery cellars, use of smoke tainted grapes, and so on.)

Now that you know the reason behind wine spoilage, let’s look at some indicators to tell if wine isn’t drinkable anymore.

How To Know If The Wine Has Gone Bad

If you’re drinking boxed wine or a screw cap wine, chances are it already has an expiration date mentioned on the label.

But if it’s not a boxed wine, here’s how wine drinkers can identify spoiled wine.

A. Check The Wine Cork

The first indicator of bad wine is a dry cork.

A dry cork lets the air seep into the bottle and oxidizes the wine. So, if the cork crumbles when you open the bottle, your Pinot Noir has (probably) already lost its flavor!

B. Examine The Wine Color

The second sign to look for in a spoiled wine is the change of color.

Dark red and purple wines take on a tawny hue or brownish color, while a white wine turns yellow or opaque.

If an unopened old wine has tiny bubbles, then the wine has gone through unplanned fermentation during winemaking. For the opposite reason, watch out for any sparkling wine that doesn’t have bubbles!

C. Smell The Wine

The next step would be to get a whiff of the old wine to notice any wine fault like cork taint. (Cork taint occurs due to musty aroma compounds.)

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

If the old wine has a sharp vinegar smell, then you should refrain from drinking it. Also, if your wine smells like sauerkraut, applesauce, or burnt marshmallows, you should probably discard it.

D. Taste It

Cork taint can also affect the taste of the wine. A wine with this wine fault will have duller flavors with almost no fruit - wine drinkers’ worst nightmare!

Also, if your wine tastes like vinegar and has sharp acidity, it has lost its flavors.

Can You Get Sick By Drinking Bad Wine?

Wine has moderate to high acidity and alcohol levels which hinders the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. So, drinking a small amount of sour wine from an open bottle won’t be a cause for concern.

That said, it is also important to note that too much exposure to oxygen can ultimately lead to yeast and bacterial growth. This can cause an upset stomach, abdominal pain, and nausea.

But this happens in an open wine that has been left untouched for a few weeks. The wine’s taste would be too sour to actually consume it.

Now:

Let’s address the elephant in the room.

How Long Can An Open Bottle Of Wine Last?

In general, you can store an opened bottle of wine for 3-5 days. But this can vary depending on the type of wine.

Here’s a quick guide for every wine lover to track wine spoilage of opened wine:

Sparkling wine can last up to 2 days.
White wine and rosé winestay good for up to 5 days.
Red wine can last up to 6 days after opening.
You can drink an open dessert wine for up to 7 days.
Fortified wine like Port wine can stay good for up to 3 weeks, and Madeira can be drunk even after a year of opening the bottle.

Want to store your unopened or opened wine like a Sommelier?

Tips For Storing An Opened Bottle Of Wine

An opened wine that has been exposed to air is going to deteriorate sooner or later. Here are a few tips to increase the shelf life of your opened wine.

A. Re-Cork The Bottle

The best way to stop a good quality wine from spoiling is to cut off the air supply. A corked wine will oxidize slowly, and your open wine won’t smell like a wet dog or a wet cardboard!

You can also use a wine stopper or just buy screw cap bottles of fine wine. Look for a good-quality wine stopper from your neighborhood store or online sites like Amazon.

If you don’t have one, use a plastic wrap and rubber band to seal the bottle - as a last resort.

B. Replace Your Bottle

Using a funnel, pour the leftover wine into a half bottle and use a wine stopper to seal it. This will lessen the air exposure and prevent your opened wine from oxidizing too fast.

C. Put It In The Fridge

We know that the fridge is not the best storage area for wine. But when it comes to an opened bottle, it might just save the day.

An open bottle of wine will deteriorate much faster at room temperature than in the fridge.

Re-cork the bottle and place the leftover wine in the fridge to slow down the oxidation process and help your wine last a bit longer.

D. Use A Specialized Wine Bottle Opener

A wine preservation device will help you pour out the wine without ruining the cork or exposing the wine to the air. So, your opened wine can last for a few weeks.

E. Drink It Up

Here’s the coolest method to save your quality wine - drink it up!

You can pour around five glasses of wine from a 750 ml bottle, and drinking 1-2 glasses a day won’t be harmful to your health. Or invite your friends home and clink glasses with them.

Try to finish your wine within three days of opening your bottle and enjoy your red wine before it turns into an unpleasant grape juice.

Tips For Storing An Unopened Bottle Of Wine

When it comes to unopened wine, there’s a lot you can do to help your wine retain its best flavors and aromas.

Here are the best wine storage tips for an unopened bottle that every wine lover should know of.

A. Keep It Away From Light

Intense light can break down the phenolic compounds of the wines (especially red wine), which speeds up the aging process. This can ruin the flavors and aromas of the wine.

That’s the reason why your wine is best stored in climate-controlled spots like a proper wine cellar. That’s also why your wine rack is best kept in dark places like a closet.

B. Minimal Vibrations

A bottle of fine wine should be kept away from vibrations and sudden movements that can shake the sediment in the wine.

C. Place The Bottle Horizontally

Corked wine bottles should always be kept horizontally or at an angle. It keeps the wine in contact with the cork and prevents the cork from drying out.

A dry cork will let the air seep in, and the wine will start to oxidize.

D. Humidity

Another method of preventing the cork from drying out is by storing the bottle of wine at 50%-75% humidity levels.

E. Temperature

Storing wine at the correct temperature protects the phenolic compounds from breaking down too fast and preserving the flavors of the wine. So, you cannot store your wine at room temperature.

Here’s a guide to what temperature to store different types of wine:

Full-bodied red wine (Cabernet, Red Burgundy, Grand Cru Bordeaux, Port): 17oC-19oC (63˚F-66˚F)
Light-bodied red wine (Beaujolais, Tawny Port, Pinot Noir): 12˚C-16˚C (54˚F-61˚F)
Dry white wine (Alsace Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, White Burgundy): 8˚C-12˚C (46˚F-54˚F)
Sparkling wine and dessert wines (Cava, Ice wine, Sauternes, Vintage Champagne): 5˚C-8˚C (41˚F-46˚F)

If you’re planning to store your wine for the long term, you cannot keep your wine in a regular fridge.

Instead, you can use wine coolers that will maintain the ideal temperature and keep your wine fresh - especially if you don’t want it to taste like acetic acid in a couple of days!

But before you go ahead and start arranging for the perfect wine cellar, note that not all wines are worth cellaring.

Just like an aged wine is not for cooking, a cooking wine like Sherry is not for cellaring.

What Are The Best Wines To Age? (Unopened Wine)

Look for the acidity, tannin, sweetness and alcohol levels when you’re looking for a bottle to age for your milestone birthday party or simply as an investment:

Acidity: A wine with high acidity (like Riesling white wine) has a better chance of aging. That’s because the acid deteriorates with time and gives the wine subtle tanginess.
Tannin: Tannin preserves the color and flavors of the wines and slowly breaks down as the wine ages. So, the higher the tannins, the better the aging potential.
Sweetness level: Dessert wine has high sugar content. Since sugar is a natural preservative, it helps the wine last long without compromising its taste.
Alcohol content: Unlike fortified wine,unfortified wines with low alcohol levels are best for aging. Alcohol can be unstable and turn into an acid after air exposure, giving the wine a vinegar taste.

Take a look at some of the best wines for aging.

The Best Red Wines To Age

The most noteworthy red wines to add to your wine cellar are:

The Best Sparkling and White Wines To Age

Some of the best white wines for your cellar are:

Now, if you think buying fine wine and storing it for the long run is a hassle, then we have the perfect professional solution for you!

Read on.

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A Glass Of Wine For Your Next Celebration!

Keeping your opened and unopened white wine and other bottles fresh in your wine cellar should be easy if you follow most of the tips we shared.

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