Does unopened bottled wine have a drink by date ?

Answer 1

Yes, should be drunk by approx. 2 hours after you've bought it.

Answer 2

Each wine will have a different lifespan but, in general, you should be able to keep most red wines for a minimum of 2 years. I have not had the opportunity to have this particular red wine but I would imagine that you could even hold off on opening this until 2010. Both Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are very age worthy grapes so you have a pretty good chance of getting some decent life out of this bottle. As for how to keep it - does it have a screwcap or is it a cork closure? That will determine whether or not you store it upright or on it's side. The only reason why you store a bottle of wine on it's side is to keep the cork moistened should the winery choose to use one. A lot of the Australian wineries have switched to screwcap so it's possible that your bottle may have one. If it does, you're fine to keep it stored upright, in a well ventilated area that does not experience a lot of temperature fluctuations. If you live in a house with a basement, that will be the best place.

Answer 3

Have you heard of vintage wine? Lay it down and make sure that the cork is covered completely by the wine. So, the bottle should be tipped slightly forward and it should be stored in a place which is about 10°C constantly - summer and winter. That's why there were wine cellars. Don't try this with a cheap rosé. If you've got a cheap rosé - drink it. It's great. Not just in Summer with BBQ's, but it's great to drink with a spiced meal. It doesn't compete with the spices like a heavy red wine might.

Answer 4

ot really a drink by date. But certain wines don't last as long as others. White wines are good for about 2-3 years and then they start to go bad. Most reds are good for a few years up to many years. It depends on the quality of wine. Of course a cheap bottle with a screw top of any kind of wine isn't going to make it past a year or so. But corked wines that are reds can last for an incredibly long time if they are good quality. I work for a company that sells wines and spirits and we have some reds that are 20,30 even 100 years old. If you aren't sure about a wine you personally own call your local wine store they can be very helpful.

Answer 5

Yes, but it's anybody's guess what that is. The "big" wines like Bordeax and Barolos tend to be best after a decade or two in the bottle, and many "lighter" wines begin to lose some character after only a couple of years. It's a whole area of study in itself, and expert opinions are available, but don't look for a date on the label!

Answer 6

A good quality wine will last many years. Sometimes some sediment (bits) form in the bottle, but they are harmless. Make sure the 'cork' stays moist, and the way to do this is to store it on its side, and turn the bottle a few times a year. I have a few bottles here that are 10+ years old, no worries.

Answer 7

red wine ages well - white wine not.
Some red has remained unopened for decades - but by which time it's so expensive that no one knows if it tastes good because they dare not open it.
I've drunk red that was bought five years before and it wa fine.
Soon as you open it you can tell if it's no good.
It should be OK as long as it's been kept in the right conditions and not been allowed to heat up and cool down repeatedly

Answer 8

High quality wine only gets better with the years (1945 Mouton Rothschild anyone?), up to a hundred years and more.

You can store your wine as long as you please, but it does not make sense if it's of supermarket quality, as it won't get better - maybe even worse. However, a mature good wine from the year of birth of the celebrating person always makes a very nice b-day present!

Answer 9

nope wine never gos bad. you can drink wine thats 100's of years old as long as its been unopened

Answer 10

Hi Anne,
I do trust not. I have tried 25yr old stuff, and my uncle has a few bottles of 80yr old stuff, one of which was sampled on new years' eve, and it was fine.
Only if the seal / cork perishes, allowing air & microbes in, will you end up with a bottle of vinegar.
Most wines improve with a bit of ageing.
Cheers,
Bob.

Answer 11

Most product sold in the US have been sanctioned by USDA regulations and the like.

The "SHELF LIFE" of a product is determined by these regulations.

Many of the Medical Products have a "Shelf Life" on them and cannot be used or sold here! Yet they are Extensively Used over seas, especially in 'third-world-countries!'

Thanks, RR