How Long Can Wine Sit Out And Does It Go Bad?

An alcoholic beverage, wine, is prepared from the fermentation of grape juice. Although wine can be made from cranberries, apples, plums etc., the word wine itself indicates that it is prepared from grapes. These grapes are different from the table grapes you normally consume.

The second most popular alcoholic drink, beer, is different from wine because it is made from the fermentation of grains rather than grapes or fruits. Wine grapes require an entire year to ripen. That is why the term ‘vintage’ is used frequently with wines.

The ‘Age’ in vintage talks about the year of preparation of that wine, and ‘vint’ means winemaking. Wine is classified into five types: White, Red, Sweet, Rose and Sparkling Wine, depending on the grape varieties and quantity of several ingredients.

How Long Can Wine Sit Out?

A bottle of wine is a beverage that is quite common and is enjoyed in various flavors. Most people have wine cellars with several vintage wine bottles, and they store them for a long time. Hence, wine is one thing you will not have to worry about going bad quickly. 

If you ask how long wine can sit out, the answer to this question is not specific, and each type of wine has a different time it can sit out for. Wine can sit out ranging from one to seven days if kept in the bottle with a cork. Sparkling wine loses its taste quicker than the other wines; hence, don’t let it sit out for more than a day.

What Happens if Wine Sits Out Too Long? 

Wine bottles stored in the cellars or pantry are packed and do not go bad for a long time, but opened wine bottles are different. If you leave an open bottle of any wine on the counter for too long, say more than a day or two, then the wine will lose its original flavor. 

The acetic acid bacteria present in wine metabolize the alcohol into aldehyde and ethanoic acid, which, as a result, releases an unpleasant vinegar-like odor. Moreover, wine exposed to air for a long period will oxidize, causing the fruity flavors to disappear and the aromatics to settle.

What Should You Do If Wine Is Left Out Too Long? 

Wine is something that will cause no harm even if you drink it after letting it sit out for a few days. However, you will have to bear its changed taste with no flavor and strong vinegar-like smell that comes off when the wine is sat out for too long.

Oxygen is like a friend to some wines, it helps them enhance more flavor and make it more enjoyable, but to other wines, it’s an enemy that degrades its taste and destroys the flavor. If you have a wine that has sat out for too long, you can try it for its taste; if it is still pleasant, there is no harm in consuming it. If not, then discard it.

How Long Can Wine Be In The Car For? 

Wine is something you can carry around in your car easily without worrying about it going bad. You can easily carry an unopened wine bottle in wine totes and keep it in your car in a safe and cool place. 

However, an opened bottle of wine should not be left in the car for too long. Ensure to cork the bottle if keeping it in the car, and do not let it sit in the car for more than eight to ten hours.

Does Wine Go Bad If Not Refrigerated? 

Fine quality wine can last for decades without doing bad. The life span of each wine depends on its type as different ingredients are used. An opened bottle of wine should be corked and kept refrigerated for the taste to remain fresh.

Does Wine Go Bad If You Lose Power? 

Where power outages can be a headache because of the food stored in the fridge, you can rest assured about your refrigerated bottle of wine. A fine quality wine will not go bad even after a long power cut, but you will have to watch for the cheap quality one. It might not spoil because of the power outage, but its taste may change quicker than good wine.

What Temperature Is Safe For Wine?

Wine is best stored in the pantry or wine cellars. The optimum temperature range suitable for wine is between 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This range may vary for different types of wines. If exposed to a temperature higher than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the wine falls in the danger zone.

How to Store Wine?

For every food product or beverage, it is very important to store it in good conditions to last for as long as possible. If you do not take good care of the storage conditions, then the product will not last for a longer period.

If you have bought too many bottles of wine, you need to store them properly so that they can last for as long as possible.

Place in a cool and dark place

Wine can sit at normal temperatures. The best temperature at which a bottle of wine can last for a long time is 13 degrees Centigrade. So, you should place the wine in a cool and dark place away from the heat sources. The wine cellar is the best place for storing the wine.

Keep it away from heat sources.

Heat can affect wine negatively. You should always keep the wine away from sunlight and heat sources. Placing wine on top of the refrigerator, at the back of the oven, and near the stove is the worst option. Because wine gets heated up very quickly, and if it is heated, the unit will not retain its quality for a long time.

Place it horizontally

It would be best for you if you place the unopened bottle of wine in a lying position. In this way, the wine’s cork will stay moistened, and it will not dry out. If the deteriorates and air moves inside the bottle, it will affect the wine negatively. It will not retain its quality and will go bad very quickly.

Place in the refrigerator

You should not keep the opened bottle of wine in the pantry. The best place to store the opened bottle of wine in the refrigerator. Here, it will stay fresh and will retain its peak quality for a longer period.

Keep it sealed tightly

Once you have opened the bottle, always keep in mind that you should keep the bottle sealed tightly. You can use the original cork, but if the cork doesn’t fit back, it will best use a stopper or a plastic wrap.

Can You Freeze Wine?

Wince can be stored in the freezer to increase its shelf-life. It freezes at a lower temperature than the water due to the alcoholic content present in the wine. However, the wine will not retain its taste after freezing. There is a slight change in the taste of the wine that is stored in the freezer.  Frozen wine will be best for cooking rather than drinking.

How Long Does Wine Last?

Wine is a shelf-stable beverage. If it is stored wine properly, then it can last for many years. An unopened bottle of wine can last for many years, depending upon its expiration date. Once you open the bottle, it depends on the storage conditions and how long it can last.

A great quality of wine can stay in the pantry for decades. White wine can last up to two years, whereas red wine has a shelf-life of almost three years. The shelf-life of wine also depends on the storage conditions. If it is stored properly, then it will last for as long as possible.

How to Tell If Wine Is Bad?

Wine can go bad, but it also depends on its quality. A fine quality wine can last for decades. On the other hand, cheap quality wine can get spoiled if it is not stored properly. There will a change in the taste, color, and smell of wine when it gets spoiled.

To tell whether your wine is good or not, you need to check the following things.

• Leaky cork and change in the color of liquid are the common traits of bad wine. If your wine appears a bit cloudy or dusty, then you should get rid of it at once.
• You can also tell whether the wine is fine or not by tasting it. If it tastes bad, then you should not use it. It would be best for you to get rid of it at once.
• Give your wine a good sniff. If it smells bad, then it means that it has gone bad. You should avoid using it.

Sources

• Wine folly
• Vinepair
• Bonapetit
• Wineman