How long do wines last? Do they go bad quickly? And how can you increase the longevity of your drinks?

These are some of the most common questions Australia’s top wine cellar company and wine manufacturer get. While the longevity of your wine depends primarily on its components and cellaring process, there are ways you can help the liquors last longer.

So, scroll down to the next section and learn why wines go sour, which wines age the best and how you can help the ageing process!

Does Wine Go Bad? Asking The Best Wine Cellar Company In Australia!

Wine cellaring is a delicate process, requiring much time and patience.

Read the below section and learn about wines going nasty so you don’t make any mistakes.

Does wine go bad quickly?

Wine does not go bad quickly. However, if you don’t re-cork it after having a sip, it will lose its aromas and flavours. How quickly this transformation happens depends on wine ingredients and manufacturing methods.

On the other hand, unopened wines can last for years beyond their expiry date. Cooking wines, however, don’t typically last beyond four to five years or their expiry date.

Why does wine go bad?

The most common reasons for wines to go bad, according to the best wine cellar company include

Oxidisation

Excessive exposure to oxygen causes the wine’s chemical composition to change. It can happen if you leave the wine bottle open too long or when the cork dries, letting air inside the bottle.

Contamination

If bacteria or other contaminants enter the wine bottle during the bottling, fermentation or distribution, it can ruin the drink before it reaches the cellar.

Improper storage

Wines can also go rancid if your custom wine cellar does not have proper temperature and humidity.

How long does it take for wines to go bad?

Here’s an overview of how long different types of wine last if you leave them open

  • Sparkling wines – one to two days
  • Light white and rosé – four to five days
  • Rich white wines – up to five days
  • Red wine – between three and six days
  • Dessert wines – three to seven days
  • Port wine – one to three weeks
  • Sherry wine – up to eight weeks

How to tell if the wine has expired?

Here’s how the best wine cellar company in Australia find out the drink has expired

  • Dry cork: It’s the first sign of wine going sour.
  • Discolouration: Red and white wines tend to turn brownish and yellow, respectively, when going rotten.
  • Strange smell: Another telltale sign of decaying wine is a foul smell, like vinegar or rotten egg.
  • Leak on the cork: A leak on the cork indicates heat damage.
  • Chemically taste: Poor fermentation can often cause wines to have a chemically or excessively sauerkraut flavour.
  • Lack of bubbles in sparkling wine: This issue can result from oxidation.
  • Bubble in still wine: On the other hand, bubbles in still wine indicate the reactivation of the fermentation process.

How to save your wine from going bad?

  • If you have opened the bottle, drink it up within two to three days of opening it. Or purchase re-corking essentials to make it last a few more days.
  • If you haven’t opened the bottle yet and are planning to cellar it, ensure your custom wine cellar has the correct temperature, light, humidity and minimal light for the particular variety of wine you want to cellar.

Final Thoughts

According to the best wine cellar company, most opened wine bottles can last three to five days. However, this time can vary based on storage and wine type. Generally, light-coloured wines go bad faster than their darker counterparts. Also, wines that are sweet or have a good amount of tannin in them can last longer. Hopefully, these points will help you take better care of your wines.