How long can a bottle of wine be kept? It all depends.
Before a bottle is opened, its shelf life largely depends on the wine’s type, origin, and overall quality. In fact, there are as many ideal storage times as there are varieties of wine.

But before we dive into the specifics, it’s important to ask: Why are you storing this wine?
Some bottles are meant to be enjoyed within a few years of bottling, while others—especially prestigious red wines—benefit from aging to unlock their full aromatic and flavor potential.

To allow a wine to evolve gracefully over time, it must be kept under optimal conditions: stable humidity, darkness, horizontal positioning, the right temperature, and an environment free from vibration.

How long does an unopened bottle of wine last?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Even within the same appellation, different vintages can age at different rates. Still, general rules of thumb can help:

• Dry whites and rosés tend to have a shorter lifespan and are best enjoyed within 2 to 3 years.

• Sweet wines—such as Sauternes, late harvest wines, vin jaune, or vin de paille from Jura—can last several decades, sometimes even 50 years or more, provided they’re stored correctly.

• Red wines, especially top-tier Bordeaux or Burgundy grands crus, often have the greatest aging potential. It’s not unusual for bottles several decades old to be opened and still offer an extraordinary tasting experience.

Pinpointing a wine’s peak drinking window isn’t easy—even for experts. It depends on numerous factors: the vintage’s weather conditions, the grape varieties used, harvest quality, and more.

How long does an opened bottle of wine last?

Once a bottle is opened, oxygen begins to interact with the wine, starting the oxidation process. This can enhance flavors at first—but wait too long, and the wine’s quality will quickly decline.

Here are some general guidelines:

• White and rosé wines can usually be kept for 5 to 7 days in the fridge after opening.

• Red wines can last 3 to 5 days if re-corked and stored in a cool, dark place.

To slow down oxidation, you can use a vacuum wine saver to remove air from the bottle. This helps preserve the wine’s aromas a bit longer—but even with that, don’t delay too much.
With great wines, it’s best not to stretch their life once opened. While a little air can help bring out their complexity, too much will quickly ruin the experience.

Curious about long-term wine storage?
Check out our thoughts on wine cabinets and how they can help you store and age your wines in perfect conditions.