How Long Does Prosecco Wine Last?

Prosecco is one of the most popular wines - it’s the perfect beverage for any occasion, whether you’re celebrating, you’re meeting with friends, or you’re simply unwinding after a long week at work.

Stocking up on Prosecco may seem like a good idea, but do you know how long Prosecco lasts when unopened?

A flat bubbly is certain to dampen your day, so it’s always best to know how long your Prosecco will last, whether opened or unopened.

Keep reading to find out how long Prosecco lasts, how you should store Prosecco to increase the shelf life, and what to do with leftover Prosecco.

How Long Does Prosecco Last?

Many wines benefit from ageing, but unfortunately, Prosecco isn’t one of them. Regardless of whether the Prosecco is organic, sugar-free, or vegan Prosecco, it won't age well. 

Because Prosecco has a high sugar content, it loses its flavour profile and fizz quicker than other types of wine.

Depending on how you store your Prosecco, it can last for years. Prosecco that hasn’t been opened, and stored in the correct way, can last for up to two years.

However, Prosecco that has been opened may start to taste poor after a couple of days - but again, this depends on how you store it.

Prosecco doesn’t usually go off but will develop unpleasant tastes. In time, Prosecco will also lose its fizz, as well as its unique flavour profile, giving it a bland texture and taste.

Sparkling Prosecco will often be flat when you go to drink them years after being bottled - so it’s always best to drink your sparkling wines first, as they don’t age as well as other types of wine.

Humidity is also a factor when storing wine - Prosecco (and all wines, for that matter) shouldn’t be exposed to humidity, as it can negatively affect the taste, texture, and appearance.

You can tell your Prosecco has gone bad by simply looking at it - if it has a yellow or brown appearance when you pour it, then it’s not going to taste great.

You could also try smelling the Prosecco before tasting it - if it doesn’t have the signature zing that Prosecco usually has, or smells musty, then you might as well pour it down the sink.

To be sure, it’s always best to drink your favourite Prosecco before it’s two years old - even before a year if possible - then you can be sure that it’s going to have the delicious fruity notes and still be sparkling.

How Should I Store Prosecco?

The way you store your Prosecco can be the difference between a delicious and fizzy Prosecco, and a musty, flat, and stale Prosecco.

You should store your wine in different ways depending on whether you’ve opened the bottle or not - keep reading to find out more.

Before Opening

Unopened Prosecco is best stored in a cool and dark place, like most other types of wine.

Sunlight can be damaging to a wine’s flavour profile, and cause unwanted chemical reactions that result in a sour taste.

The humidity levels can also affect your Prosecco - which is why most wine coolers will have humidity control as well as temperature control.

However, many types of Prosecco aren’t suitable for long-term fridge storage. However, Prosecco is best served chilled, so it won’t do any harm placing it in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.

Prosecco tastes best when served at between 6 and 8⁰C, and the only way to achieve this temperature is by placing it in the fridge or in a wine cooler.

For long term storage, the environment should be cool but not too cold - and should be dark.

Cellars or dark cupboard spaces are your best bets for storing the majority of types of Prosecco.

It’s important that you store Prosecco vertically, so it’s standing up. If you store your Prosecco laying flat, then it will come into contact with the cork and develop a woody taste.

Storing your Prosecco horizontally can also reduce the quality quickly, as it will leave the cork moist, which can allow oxygen to enter the bottle.

After Opening

It’s not too difficult to finish a bottle of Prosecco - however, if you only fancy a glass, there’s no point in throwing away the rest of the bottle.

The good news is that it can be stored and kept for a few days after opening, so you can enjoy the rest of your bottle over the next few days.

The challenge, however, is ensuring that your Prosecco remains fizzy.

One of the best ways of storing Prosecco after opening it is by keeping it in the fridge, as cool air slows down the release of gas bubbles. Make sure the bottle is upright, so it doesn’t spill.

To ensure that your Prosecco remains fizzy after opening it, invest in a wine stopper specifically for sparkling wines.

With a wine stopper, you can keep your Prosecco fresh and fizzy for around five days when kept in the fridge.

An old wives tale suggests that placing a silver spoon into the neck of a bottle can help an opened Prosecco retain its fizz.

It does appear to work, so it’s worth a try if you don’t have a wine stopper.

Prosecco tastes best when stored with a cork, and the quality can deteriorate quickly once the cork is removed.

Although these methods keep your Prosecco drinkable a few days after opening, don’t expect it to taste the same as it did when you first removed the cork.

Where Should I Store Prosecco?

When you see Prosecco on offer, you may be tempted to stock up and grab a few bottles.

However, before purchasing a crate of Prosecco, consider whether you have a suitable place for storing large amounts of Prosecco.

Prosecco is best stored in a cool and dark space - for example, the back of one of your kitchen cupboards.

However, kitchen cupboards aren’t usually ideal for storing multiple bottles, as they’re usually already home to cans of food and kitchen equipment.

Another option for storing Prosecco is a wine cellar - if your wine cellar is dark, cool, and has a good level of humidity (between 50% and 70%), then it’s a great place to store multiple bottles of your favourite Prosecco.

If you don’t have a wine cellar, then you could use your garage. Garages tend to be cool and dark, making them a good alternative to a wine cellar.

What About Leftover Prosecco?

Leftover Prosecco isn’t for everyone - as mentioned before, it will be drinkable, but won’t taste the same as when you first popped the cork.

However, you may not have the heart to throw your leftover Prosecco away. Thankfully, you don’t have to - there are ways you can use your leftover Prosecco.

One of the best things you can do with leftover Prosecco is to make them into ice cubes. Simply pour the leftovers into an ice cube tray and place them into the freezer.

You can then enjoy your Prosecco ice cubes with a glass of lemonade, or with a fruity punch when you next have guests over. If you’re into cooking, you could even add your Prosecco ice cubes into a lovely gazpacho soup.

Another way to use your leftover Prosecco is by adding it to a white wine sauce for seafood or pasta dishes. Prosecco can also make a great salad dressing, as it enhances the flavours of vinaigrette.