How long is wine box wine good for after opening? Does it go as fast as normal wine when uncorked?

Answer 1

The wine will stay fresh for at least 4 weeks after opening. This is because our box contains a vacuum-sealed bag, which prevents the oxidation that spoils bottled wine a few days after opening.

The internal bag (pouch) protects the wine from being exposed to air after it is opened. As you pour the wine, the bag collapses preventing air from getting into the container (similar to a Playtex baby bottle).

Experts say the quality of boxed wine is more consistent than bottled table wines because the container is airtight. And there's no chance of the cork malfunctions that can spoil a wine.

Inside the box is a plastic bag that holds the wine. The spigot jets wine out and keeps air from getting in. That means the wine will last longer than bottled wine. Producers and wine connoisseurs say it will last as long as six months and sometimes longer. Most bottled wine goes bad just a few days after it's been opened.


"People are getting over their misconception that because it comes in a box, it's not good wine," said Saylor, standing near rows of tidily arranged wine bottles.

California's Black Box wines, which do not come in bottles, have beat bottled wines in national competitions. And prominent critics have raved about several other boxed wines this year.

In other words, these wines aren't the lawn-chair blushes that most people associate with wine in a box.

Since 2003, boxed wines have been sold by some better-known wine producers, such as Corbett Canyon and Kendall-Jackson. The wines have also increased in price. They have become some of the fastest-selling products in the wine market.

Sales of boxed wine are 6 percent of the market, but sales of premium boxed wine -- typically $16 and up -- are increasing nine times as fast as bottled wine. Sales of 3-liter boxes, the most popular of the newer, premium boxed wines, jumped 77 percent, to $31 million, in the year ending July 30 from a year earlier, according to market research firm ACNielsen.

Answer 2

Box wine keeps much longer after being opened than wine in a bottle, because the wine is never exposed directly to air until it is poured. The remaining wine stays unoxidized in the box.

I've heard "up to 4 weeks" as a general rule, although I've kept a box around longer and it was nearly as good as the day I opened it.

Incidentally "Boxed Wine" does not automatically mean "Bad Wine" these days. Many premium wines are starting to distribute in boxes for many reasons:

1) Packaging and shipping is much cheaper
2) Long shelf life after opening
3) Caters to the crowd who doesn' t want to open a whole bottle of wine just for a glass or two, so has a beer instead. They want to win that wine drinker back to wine, and this is a good way to do it.

Of course, if you're talking about the cheap stuff, your best bet might be to get rid of it with drinks like these:

http://www.drinkswap.com/ingredients/ingredient.asp?searchfor=wine&ingredient_id=74387

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

The shelf-span of an open box should be about a few weeks to a month.

Alternative packaging is starting to pick up steam too -- more producers are starting to get into boxes and tetra packs as an alternative to bottles. While the quality of these wines isn't 'good', it's certainly better than has been traditionally.

I've often wondered why some cult California label didn't come out with a line of, say, $100 box of premium Pinot Noir -- it'd be such a great gimmick...

Answer 4

Boxed wine is good a lot longer than uncorked wine. When uncorked bottled wine is left exposed to air, it will go bad within days depending on the temperature. The boxed wine has been exposed to air, but not continuous air, as it is in a jet sealed bag with a spout, thus allowing it to last longer.

Answer 5

Within a reasonable time after opening cask/boxed wine is ok to drink. The design of the tap is such that air cannot enter the wine , thus oxidation is delayed. Kept in the right conditions, cool even temp. for reds, fridge for whites, you should be able to consume the contents before the wine deteriorates. This can be up to two weeks if stored correctly.

Answer 6

To be honest (this probably sounds snobby) but boxed wine isn't particularly good at any stage. That aside - you can keep any white wine open for about two weeks and guarantee you won't get ill when you drink it. Red is different and I would recommend a maximum of only a week.

The golden rule for drinking wine once opened is really white can be kept open but must be drunk on the third day and red has to be drunk once opened.

This is something that is not normally a struggle in my house. Once a bottle is open, it is normally gone quite quickly sorry about that!

Answer 7

Really, you can't ask if a box of wine is still good if it was never good to begin with. Boxed wine is cheap swill. There are reasonably priced bottles out there. I know, I work in a shop that sells wine. Just put down the box, walk away, and don't turn back.

Answer 8

I've bought boxed wine(Franzia) and it stays good longer than bottled wine. I think the shelf-life of boxed wine when opened is a month or more. Whereas bottled wine only has a shelf life of about one week?

Answer 9

I wouldn't consider any boxed wine I've ever had to be "good" to start with. LOL Life is too short to drink bad wine.

Answer 10

I've been working on a box for three days now and it hasn't gone bad since Saturday. I lost Tuesday tho'.