Prosecco is by no doubt among the most enjoyable sparkling wines in the market that are fun to drink, put you in a festive mood, and are relatively inexpensive.
It is definitely an affordable luxury; hence very tempting to store a few bottles at home once you buy the wine.
This luxury wine is perfect for special occasions as it is a wonderful bubbly.
You can also use prosecco for chill days as a glass or two can add some fun and light to a fun day.
However, while stocking your wine cellar with this sparkly wine is a great idea, you might wonder how long does prosecco last? Can you store this bubbly wine unopened or opened for long periods without it going bad?
Though an unopened bottle of this wine does not necessarily have a shelf life, it is advisable to consume it within two years after it has been bottled.
Additionally, you won't fall sick if you consume bad prosecco, but you should be concerned as this luxury wine loses its flavor and bubbles when it goes bad.
You will also not reap maximum benefits from bad prosecco as compared to when it is fresh.
That is why I came up with this article to share all the important information you should know.
How Long Does Prosecco Last? Does Prosecco Go Bad?
Yes, technically, Prosecco can go bad.
Unlike many wines that benefit from aging, this wine loses its fizz and flavor profile quicker than other wines when stored for more extended periods.
This wine has a low aging potential because it has a higher sugar ratio than other wines and champagnes.
As mentioned above, an unopen bottle of prosecco can last you up to two years comfortably before it can be declared not safe for consumption.
However, after two years, though your wine won't go bad, it will have a pretty average taste and lose its delicious taste.
For your wine to hit the two years safely, you should store it in a place far away from humidity and light.
Humidity can negatively affect the appearance, taste, and texture of your wine.
On the other hand, sunlight can damage the flavor of your wine as it can cause unwanted chemical reactions hence your wine having a sour taste.
Consequently, depending on how you store it, opened prosecco can have a different weird and poor taste after a few days.
It is advisable that you store your prosecco in an upright position as this prevents the wine from contact with the cork.
Just like many other wines, once you open this wine, its shelf life drops drastically from two years to a few days.
Opened Prosecco stored will be great for consumption for 2 to 3 days, after which it will lose its flavor, aroma, and fizziness.
Also, you can only refrigerate prosecco for a maximum of 4 days.
If you leave your wine in the fridge for a week or longer, its cork will dry out.
When the cork dries out, it loosens hence allowing oxidation to take place, which in turn changes the overall aroma and flavor of your wine.
Your drink will also lose most of its bubbles.
After 2 to 3 days for open prosecco and a maximum of 4 days for open prosecco that has been refrigerated, you should discard the remains of your wine as it will not be safe for consumption.
Lastly, you can also preserve your prosecco by freezing.
If frozen, this sparkly wine will go bad after a month.
How to Tell if Prosecco is Bad?
As mentioned above, an unopened bottle of prosecco is unlikely to go bad before two years.
However, before consuming it, you should keenly observe your wine to look out for any possible signs that can indicate it is not safe for consumption.
The following signs indicate wine that has gone terrible;.
- The easiest way to determine if your prosecco has gone bad is by its appearance. Prosecco that is not safe for consumption discolors from its dark yellow original color to brown. This wine discolors due to oxidation that happens once it is opened. .
- Another way of telling if your prosecco wine has gone bad is by tasting it. Bad prosecco wine has a bitter and stale taste. The taste of this wine changes if stored inappropriately; exposed to sunlight as sun causes chemical reactions to occur hence the bad taste in the wine. .
- Furthermore, its smell is different as it loses its distinct scent and aroma. Fresh prosecco has a signature zing that contributes to its musty smell. This is because of oxidation and chemical reactions that will happen if the wine is not stored correctly.
- When this wine goes bad, it will definitely lose its fizz and unique flavor profile hence giving a bland taste and texture. This will happen a few days after it has been opened as it will have lost its carbonation. .
