Have a bottle of old opened wine sitting on your counter and wondering if it’s still safe to drink?
What Happens If You Drink Old Opened Wine?
You won’t get sick if you drink old opened wine, but you’ll still get drunk. Alcohol acts as a natural preservative in your wine protecting it from harmful microbes that could give you food poisoning, so you’re not going to get sick. But after you pop the cork, your wine naturally oxidizes over time and the aromas, flavors, and colors will change. You probably won’t enjoy drinking your old opened wine.
Comparison Chart: Young Wines, Old Wines, and Too Old Wines
White Wine
| Type | Color | Aromas | Flavors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Young Wine | Light yellow | Fruity | Fresh or jammy fruit |
| Old Wine | Golden | Complex | Honey, nuts, dried fruit |
| Too Old | Amber, darker | Oxidized, Alcoholic | Alcohol, Sherry-like, bruised apple, vinegar |
Quick Tip: Here’s how to tell if your white wine is bad.
Red Wine
| Type | Color | Aromas | Flavors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Young Wine | Ruby red | Fruity | Fresh or jammy fruit |
| Old Wine | Brick red | Earthy | Leather, tobacco, prune, raisin, dried flowers |
| Too Old | Brownish, paler | Maderized, Alcoholic | Alcohol, vinegar |
Helpful Tip: If you want to get a sense of what old, spoiled wine tastes like, try drinking Madeira and Amontillado Sherry. These two wine styles have oxidized and maderized notes you’ll pick up in old wines left open too long. This is a fantastic experiment with fortified wines.
Can You Get Sick from Drinking Old Wine?
No, you can’t get sick from drinking old wine. Very old wine will taste like alcohol and maybe even start to taste like vinegar. Alcohol is the only structural component in wine that doesn’t fade over time. So as the wine ages, fruity, floral, and oaky goodness fades and the wine’s alcohol becomes more noticeable.
If you’re drinking an old, opened wine that’s been sitting around it probably smells (and tastes) much more alcoholic than when you first enjoyed it. The level of alcohol hasn’t changed, it’s just more apparent.
Best Way to Save Open Wine
The best way to save an open bottle of wine is to stick it in the fridge after you pour yourself a glass. Colder temperatures slow down the chemical reactions that will oxidize your wine. You can also invest in a wine preservation system, like a Coravin. This is a worthwhile investment if you’re drinking expensive bottles of wine.
How Long Will Leftover Wine Stay Good For?
If you keep your leftover wine on your kitchen counter and do nothing special, your wine will be good for about 2-3 days. 3 days is pushing it… Put your leftover wine in your fridge.
How Long Does an Open Bottle of Wine Last? Different Styles
Different wine styles will stay fresh and aromatic for different lengths of time depending on how they’re made. Check out this at-a-glance list:
Open Wine Lifespan
| Wine Type | Lifespan |
|---|---|
| Sparkling Wine | 1-2 days – lose sparkle after 24 hrs |
| Rosé Wine | 4-5 days |
| Light White Wine | 4-5 days |
| Full-bodied White Wine | 3-5 days |
| Red Wine | 3-6 days |
| Dessert Wine | 3-7 days |
| Fortified Wine | 1+ months depending on style |
Quick Tip: As the only wine drinker in my household, I’m keenly interested in ways to keep my leftover wine fresh for as long as possible. So, I wrote this exhaustive post that looks at how acid, alcohol, tannin, and storage tricks can help keep your leftover wine good for 5-7 days, and how different wines will stay fresher longer.
Thirsty for More?
Check out how to tell if your white wine has gone bad here.
Here’s how to tell if your wine has cork taint (blegh, sadness).
Here’s how to store open Champagne and sparkling wines.
