For those who savor a good wine, an opened bottle may never get the chance to age before it’s emptied! But many people enjoy an occasional glass in the evening, want to take their time to finish the whole bottle, but certainly don’t want to pour it down the sink because it’s gone “off.”

 

You can certainly drink old opened wine for a few days after it’s been opened. Whether a white, red, or rosé, it won’t have changed in character or taste very much at all, but oxidation will have begun, and the longer you keep it, the more it’s going to deteriorate.

 

Connoisseurs and collectors treasure their wines, and if they’re serious about their stock, it will be housed in cellars or wine fridges in which temperature and humidity are carefully controlled. For most of us, our wine is not as pampered and will be enjoyed in days or weeks rather than in years. Once opened, we need to know how to keep it drinkable, and there is lots to learn.

 

What Happens To Opened Wine

A bottle of wine, when first sealed, provides an airtight container so its contents can remain unspoiled for some time:

 

However, as soon as you uncork the bottle or remove the screw top, air combines with the wine, and the oxidation begins. In addition, bacteria and other microbes may enter the bottle, affecting the taste and condition of the wine.

 

Depending on the type of wine and the conditions in which you store the wine after opening, these changes might be very gradual before the wine can be described as “old.”

 

Definition of An Old Wine

Because the change is gradual, it is a subjective decision whether your old wine is still drinkable, but look for:

 

How Long Does Wine Last When Open?

While one man’s white wine may be another man’s vinegar, an opened white, or rosé wine will last some time if it is sealed with a cork and kept in the refrigerator and a cool, dark place in the case of red wine.

 

These are the minimum periods that the wines should remain drinkable. Sweeter wines will last longer than the dry varieties, and the lighter-bodied red wines can also be refrigerated to extend their shelf life by several days.

 

How To Store Opened Wine

Once the wine has been opened and the oxidation process begins, temperature plays a major part in determining how long the wine will last.

 

It’s also important that exposure to air and bacteria is kept to a minimum, so the first thing to do is to re-seal the bottle as effectively as possible. Specially designed Champagne Stoppers provide a good seal for sparkling wines, but a normal cork or screw top will also work for other wines.

 

Once your opened bottle of white wine has been re-sealed, place it upright in a refrigerator and keep it as cold as possible. The same applies to fortified wines such as port and sherry, which can last several weeks in these conditions.

 

We suggest that you don’t keep full-bodied reds in the fridge, as the tannins in the wine may disturb the taste balance. These wines should be stored in a cool, dark place. On the other hand, lighter red wines last well when chilled, so they can be stored in the refrigerator.

 

Drinking Old Opened Wine – Can You Vs. Should You

It’s good to know that there is no health risk in drinking an old, opened wine if it’s drunk in moderation. It all depends on how far the oxidation process has gone and just how palatable the wine still is.

 

Bad wine is unpleasant but bear in mind that old wine turns into nothing more lethal than vinegar. In the most extreme cases, if drunk in excess, it can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but only because you drank too much! If you like the taste of your old, opened wine, go right ahead, and enjoy it – it’s going to do you no harm.

 

Other Uses For Old Opened Wine

If you’ve tasted the wine and decided against drinking it, there are several ways of using it before pouring it down the drain. Here are just some of the unusual uses for old, opened wine.

 

Conclusion

Many wine-lovers have no problem finishing a bottle of their favorite varietal in one sitting. Whether one can drink old, opened wine is not a question they need to consider. However, if you’re a more conservative drinker and you’re not in favor of wine-in-a-box (which lasts weeks instead of days), it’s comforting to know that you can drink old, opened wine without any unfortunate side effects. 

 

Most wines are very drinkable for at least a few days after opening, provided they are stored correctly. The sweeter the wine, the longer it lasts, and red wines last longer than whites. Personal taste will dictate when a particular bottle of old, opened wine becomes undrinkable. But it’s good to know that it’s seldom, if ever, harmful, so don’t pour it down the sink!