How long does wine last?
Wine keeps for 1 to 3 days in the fridge once opened, for 3 to 5 years in the pantry. USDA lists 3 kinds of wine; the first is shown here and all are in the table below.
Where these times come from. USDA FoodKeeper has no entry named "wine". The 3 kinds on this page are the USDA entries that cover wine, copied without change from Red wine, White wine and Cooking wine. Each row in the table is one USDA entry; pick the one that matches what you have.
red
3 to 5 years
from purchase
Dark, away from direct heat or sunlight.
1 to 3 days
after opening
No guideline
All kinds of wine, side by side
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| red | 3 to 5 years | no guideline | 1 to 3 days | no guideline |
| white | 1 to 2 years | no guideline | 1 to 3 days | no guideline |
| cooking wine | Use by the package date | Use by the package date | no guideline | no guideline |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
- red: Dark, away from direct heat or sunlight.
- white: Dark, away from direct heat or sunlight.
After thawing
- red: in the fridge once thawed.
- white: in the fridge once thawed.
How to tell wine has gone bad
General signs for beverages, the group USDA lists wine under.
- Fizzy drinks that have gone flat or taste metallic
- Sour or curdled smell from opened juice or milk alternatives
- Cloudiness or separation that will not shake back together
- Cork pushed slightly out or wine that smells like vinegar
- Mould ring forming at the neck of a bottle or carton
More on beverages. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Refrigerate opened juice, milk alternatives and any dairy-based drinks, and use them within about a week. Store unopened cans and bottles upright in a cool, dark spot away from direct sunlight. Keep coffee and tea in airtight containers away from heat and moisture to preserve flavour longer.
More in beverages
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). Times assume a fridge at 40 F (4 C) and a freezer at 0 F (-18 C). How we decode the data.