If you drink wine on occasion, this may be a question that you may have asked in the past. The simple answer is that white wine can last anywhere from a few days to a week plus, depending on how it’s stored and how fresh it is when you open it. We will look at how to tell if your white wine is still good enough to use and what to do to make sure it lasts as long as possible.
How long does white wine last if it is unopened?
White wine may be kept for a long time if kept in the right conditions. Cellaring is the best solution, but this is not possible for many, so keeping your pantry cold and dark is the next best location.
Typically you can expect an unopened bottle of wine to last 1-2 years and a wine box to last 1 year.
Realistically, how long does white wine last after opening a bottle?
When wine is opened and exposed to the air, all of the tastes change. White wines are susceptible to temperature and they can change their taste in only a few days. There are methods to keep the taste of whites after opening them so you can continue to use them a few days later, but they may be tricky. Knowing the type of white wine you are using and following the guidelines is important for the best results.
Here are the instructions for four different types of wine. Remember that the light, temperature, the container, the lid and more can change the results.
Sparkling Whites: 1-3 days in the fridge with a sparkling wine stopper.
Light Whites: 5-7 days in the fridge when recorked.
Full Bodied Whites: 3-5 days in the fridge when recorked.
Wine in a Bag in a Box: 2-3 weeks in the fridge.
Can I extend the life of my wine after I have opened it?
It may be possible to extend the life of your wine for a few days.
Two products can help you keep your wine for longer. The first one I want to share with you is a vacuum stopper.
This gadget is a tiny pump with a bottle stopper that allows you to pull the air out of the bottle after putting the bottle stopper on, resulting in a vacuum. Oxidation results from this air. So, the less air there is in your bottle after you seal it, the more quickly your wine will oxidize. It’s a small device that is very useful to wine enthusiasts.
The second product is known as a Coravin. This is a tool for extracting wine without uncorking the bottle.
The Coravin uses a thin, hollow needle and argon, a gas commonly utilized in wine bottling operations, to extract wine through the cork after it’s inserted. It then pumps in a little amount of argon. When the needle is removed, the cork naturally expands, as if the wine has never been opened.
These two gadgets will help keep your wine for longer rather than forcing you to play the guessing game and sniff or throw it away the next day or so. With two different price points, you may select the best one for you depending on how much wine you use and the price of your favourite bottle. Some may say that these gadgets will pay for themselves as your wine will last longer and you may buy fewer bottles as a result.
How do I know if my wine has gone off?
Fortunately, there are a few different ways to work out whether or not your wine has gone bad. Using your senses is key to solving this puzzle, in particular sight, smell and taste.
Use of sight
Oxidized wines usually turn brown. For white wine, avoid any that are an orangy yellow or straw colour. This colour is a good indicator of change in white wine, but you can also smell or taste it to confirm.
Look to see if the cork has been pushed out of the bottle. This is a sign that the bottle has been excessively heated. This may happen in transit, but it could also happen if the bottles have not been properly stored.
Check if you can see bubbles in a still white wine. There will be a distinct sound made by a wine that has gone fizzy when the cork is removed.
Use of smell
Does it smell of vinegar? This aroma indicates that your wine is off. Wines with vinegar or sour odors should be thrown away.
Also, look out for a musty smell in your white wine. Again this is a sign it has gone bad and should be discarded.
If you have a dry white wine, does it smell sweet? This is not correct and you should not drink this wine.
Use of taste
Does it taste like vinegar? This is a hint that it has been oxidized and should be thrown away. Does it taste fizzy? If a still white wine has a little fizz you know it’s time to discard it. Does it taste flat? The wine is no good if there are few fruit tastes in the wine.
In conclusion …
There are gadgets available that will help your opened wine to last longer. Storage of your wine is also important. Cellaring is the best choice, but alternatively, keep your pantry cold and dark.
Some clues can help you determine whether or not white wine has gone bad. If you’re ever unsure, side with caution and don’t drink. With a little knowledge, you can ensure that your white wine lasts as long as possible after opening.