You can usually drink most opened wines for about 3–5 days if they’ve been stored properly (re‑corked and kept cool), but quality drops steadily and you should always check the smell and taste first.

How long can you drink wine after opening?

General timelines

  • Most everyday wines stay pleasant for around 3–5 days after opening if re‑corked and refrigerated (or kept very cool for reds).
  • After that, the wine is often still technically safe, but flavors turn flat, sour, or vinegary as oxygen breaks it down.

By wine type

  • Red wine: Typically 3–5 days if re‑corked and stored in a cool, dark place; fuller‑bodied, more tannic reds can sometimes make it to day 5–6.
  • White & rosé: About 3–5 days in the fridge with a cork or stopper; after ~3 days you may notice duller aromas.
  • Sparkling wine: Best within 1–3 days with a proper sparkling‑wine stopper; bubbles fade quickly.
  • Fortified wines (Port, Sherry, etc.): Can last up to about 4 weeks after opening thanks to higher alcohol and sugar, especially if kept cool and sealed.

When is it too old?

  • A few days to two weeks: Often just oxidized and unpleasant – brownish color, flat or sharp, vinegar‑like smell; usually not dangerous but not enjoyable.
  • Many weeks or months: Quality is almost always ruined; most advice is not to drink wine that has been open for weeks unless it is a fortified style and has been stored correctly.

How to tell if opened wine is bad

  • Look: Noticeable browning in whites/rosés or brick‑brown in reds, or any cloudiness or sediment that wasn’t there before.
  • Smell: Strong vinegar, nail‑polish remover, musty or cooked/raisiny aromas suggest it has gone past its best.
  • Taste: Very sour, harsh, or completely flat and lifeless means it’s over the hill; if it tastes off, it’s better to pour it away.

Simple storage tips (to stretch those days)

  • Re‑cork tightly or use a dedicated wine stopper, and store in the fridge (even reds) to slow oxidation.
  • Keep the bottle as full as possible (less air space), or use vacuum pumps or inert‑gas systems if you have them to extend life a bit further.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.