DecodedGuides

How to store red wine

Best place: the pantry until opened, then the fridge. Unopened, red wine keeps for 3 to 5 years in the pantry. Once opened, the fridge gives 1 to 3 days.

Two fruit juices in glasses with straws
Photo: Alexas Fotos / Pexels
Pantry

3 to 5 years

from purchase

Dark, away from direct heat or sunlight.

Fridge

1 to 3 days

after opening

Freezer

No guideline

USDA notes for red wine

  • Dark, away from direct heat or sunlight.

How to tell red wine has gone bad

General signs for beverages, the group USDA lists red 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.

Looking for one kind of red wine?

How to store other beverages

Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.