How Long Does Ice Wine Last? (Eiswein)

by Philip Thompson
08 July, 2023

There really isn’t a more deliciously decadent way to end a meal than with a glass of golden sweet ice wine, is there?

But with all of that succulent sugar contributing to the wine, how long can ice wine last once opened, and is ice wine capable of going bad in the same way as other white wines?

Let’s start with opened ice wine first.

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How Long Does Ice Wine Last Opened?

Credit: Dr Loosen Riesling Eiswein Available From Waitrose

Ice wine is made with grapes that have been frozen whilst on the vine, which concentrates the grape’s sugars, leading to really sumptuously sweet wines.

This higher sugar level, paired with lots of zingy acidity and a higher alcohol content means that ice wine can last some time once the bottle has been opened.

Try and drink your opened ice wine within 7 days of opening, although the sooner you drink it the better.

Try to ensure your opened ice wine has been sealed tightly and refrigerated well and it should last you for a week, if not more.

But what about unopened bottles?

How Long Does Ice Wine Last Unopened?

How Long Does Unopened Ice Wine Last

Credit: Dr Loosen Riesling Eiswein Available From Waitrose

Ice wine will be ready to consume as soon as you purchase it, so don’t worry too much about cellaring, and try to consume your ice wine within 4-5 years of purchasing.

However, when made well, quality ice wine is capable of making some really exceptional wines with fantastic ageing abilities. These wines should be able to keep for about a decade, but always check with your wine retailer for the specific of individual bottles, here.

So how can you store your ice wine to keep it fresher for longer?

How To Store Opened Ice Wine

Storing Opened Ice Wine

Just like all white wines, sweet or dry, we recommend storing your opened ice wine in the fridge with a stopper.

Doing so will help to preserve the freshness and flavour of the wine, you want to keep the oxygen at bay here to help keep all of those opulent dessert wine characteristics for as long as possible.

So should unopened ice wine be stored in the same way?

How To Store Unopened Ice Wine

Wine Fridge

Treat your ice wine like a sleeping child, as the key to storing unopened bottles is to keep them as undisturbed as possible.

In order to keep your unopened bottles of ice wine happy for as long as possible keep them free of exposure to light, in cool and consistent temperatures and away from loud noises or vibrations.

Related: Should Ice Wine Be Chilled?

So if you make sure to keep your ice wine in these careful conditions, does that mean it won’t go bad?

Does Ice Wine Go Bad?

The sugar in ice wine goes a long way in helping ice wine to last for long periods of time, but unfortunately ice wine is also capable of going bad, which is why it’s so important to store it well.

So how can you tell if your ice wine has gone bad?

How Can You Tell If Ice Wine Has Gone Bad?

How To Tell if Ice Wine Has Gone Bad

Okay so there are a couple of signs that your ice wine may no longer be good to drink:

The wine has changed in colour, appearing brown and unappealing
Lots of sediment has started to form in the bottle
The wine smells funny! Simply put, if the wine smells bad then chances are the wine will taste bad too.
The wine no longer tastes fresh or vibrant, but slightly thin and sour.

So can a fridge help to keep your ice wine fresher for longer?

Do You Keep Opened Ice Wine In The Fridge?

Absolutely, your opened ice wine will be great in the fridge.

When you've opened your ice wine simply put a stopper in the bottle to reduce the oxygen impact, place it back in the fridge and your wine should be drinkable for up to 7 days.

Easy!

So does that mean unopened ice wine should go in the fridge, too?

Do You Keep Unopened Ice Wine In The Fridge?

Ice wine prefers to be served chilled, but that doesn’t mean it has to be stored in the fridge, too.

Keep your unopened ice wine somewhere cool and dark and it’ll be more than fine to stay there for months, if not years.

Just pop it in the fridge on the day you plan on drinking it and et voilà!

See if your ice wine has a cork in it and if so try to store it on its side to stop the cork from drying out.

So does that mean that ice wine might have an expiration date?

Does Ice Wine Expire?

Ice Wine Expiry

Ice Wine may have lots going for it in terms of preservation and longevity, but even the sweet nature of ice wine is capable of diminishing over time.

So try and drink your ice wine sooner rather than later.

After all, it’s too delicious a wine to hide away for too long!

Summary of How Long Does Ice Wine Last

Here's a summary of all you need to know about how long ice wine lasts:

Topic	Information
Opened Ice Wine	Lasts up to 7 days after opening
Unopened Ice Wine	Can last 5+ years in cellar conditions
Storing Opened Ice Wine	Use a stopper or cork Keep in a fridge where possible Avoid exposure to light and vibrations
Storing Unopened Ice Wine	Store in a cool, dark place with minimal vibrations and noise
Ice Wine Going Bad	Over time, Ice Wine will go bad and become undrinkable
Signs of Bad Ice Wine	Change in appearance (brown and lots of sediment forming) Off-smelling aromas Vinegar-like taste
Keeping Opened Ice Wine	Slight chilling is beneficial, but domestic fridges may be too cold for serving temperatures
Keeping Unopened Ice Wine	Avoid prolonged storage in domestic fridges, opt for cool, dark conditions
Ice Wine Expiration	No set expiry date, but it will eventually become undrinkable