How Long Does Marsala Wine Last? (Opened, Unopened Bottles)

by Philip Thompson
08 July, 2023

You may associate Marsala Wine with your parents cooking. Rich and nutty, Marsala adds some really delicious complexity to any dish it's added to.

Marsala, however, is as great for drinking as it is to cook with.

So how long can Marsala last once opened, and is Marsala capable of going bad in the same way as other cooking wines?

Let’s start with opened Marsala first.

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How Long Does Marsala Wine Last Opened?

Credit: Cantine de Vita Marsala Superiore Available From Waitrose

Marsala is a fortified wine and part of the reason it is used so frequently in cooking, flavor aside, is how long it can last once opened.

Fortified with extra alcohol and with a rich sweetness to match, a well sealed and refrigerated opened bottle of Marsala can last you up to 6 months.

But what about unopened bottles?

How Long Does Marsala Last Unopened?

Credit: Cantine de Vita Marsala Superiore Available From Waitrose

If you keep them well, unopened bottles of Marsala should last you for many years.

But like most wines, they’re always best consumed within about 5 years of purchasing.

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

How To Store Opened Marsala (3 Tips)

Storing Marsala Wine

Just like you would with your unfortified wines, such as Chardonnay, we can recommend storing your opened Marsala wine in the fridge with a stopper.

Doing so will help to keep the oxygen at bay for as long as possible, preserving the freshness and flavour of the wine in the process. This means you can either cook with or drink from the bottle for a longer period of time.

In order to slow this oxidative process down, it’s smart to put a stopper or cork in the bottle.
Try to also keep Marsala in a cool environment.
A specialised wine fridge will be great here, but don’t worry if you don’t have one, a cupboard or garage works wonders, too.

But what about unopened bottles of Marsala?

How To Store Unopened Marsala

Wine Fridge

The key to storing unopened bottles is to keep them as undisturbed as possible, and this goes for even the hardiest of wines like Marsala.

Try and keep your bottles in cool, dimly light environments with consistent temperatures and away from loud noises or vibrations.

So if you keep your Marsala Wine in pristine condition, does that mean it won’t go bad?

Does Marsala Go Bad?

It’s hard to believe, but even Marsala Wine is capable of going bad, although it takes a little longer than the average wine.

Here at Expert Wine Storage we sell everything you need to make sure you’re storing your wine in the best conditions possible.

So if you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch.

So how can you tell if your Marsala has gone bad?

How Can You Tell If Marsala Has Gone Bad?

How To Tell Marsala Wine Has Gone Bad

A couple of things to look out for to see if your Marsala is past it’s best:

Bubbles forming in the liquid or sediment forming in the bottle
A change in colour, your Marsala may become paler over time
A funny smell or a sour taste is a strong sign your Marsala is no longer good to consume

So can a fridge help to keep Marsala fresher for longer?

Do You Keep Opened Marsala In The Fridge?

Yes, it's a really good idea to put opened Marsala Wine in the fridge.

Simply put a stopper in the bottle to reduce the oxygen impact, place it back in the fridge and your Marsala should keep well for up to 6 months.

Keeping Marsala in the fridge will also mean it’s not far away whenever your next recipe calls for a dash or two.

Related Guide: Red Wine Storage Temperature Guide

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

Do You Keep Unopened Marsala In The Fridge?

The joy of Marsala is that it’s a wine made of strong stuff, so save your fridge space for more delicate liquids such as milk.

Keep your unopened bottles of Marsala somewhere cool and dark and they’ll be more than fine to stay there for months, if not years.

Take a look and see if your Marsala bottles have a cork and if so try to store them on their side to stop the corks from drying out.

So does that mean that Marsala has an expiration date?

Does Marsala Expire?

Marsala may be strengthened by fortification, but like all wines it will diminish over time.

Always check in with the label to get an idea of expiry date and make sure you’re checking in with your Marsala as you use it, remember it's better to use the bottle sooner rather than too late!

Summary of How Long Does Marsala Last

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

Topic	Information
Opened Marsala	Lasts up to 6 months after opening
Unopened Marsala	Can last 5+ years in cellar conditions
Storing Opened Marsala	Use a stopper or cork Keep well chilled Avoid exposure to light and vibrations
Storing Unopened Marsala	Store in a cool, dark place with minimal vibrations and noise
Marsala Going Bad	Over time, Marsala will go bad and become undrinkable
Signs of Bad Marsala	Change in appearance and sediment forming Off-smelling aromas Vinegar-like taste
Keeping Opened Marsala	Slight chilling is beneficial, but domestic fridges may be too cold
Keeping Unopened Marsala	Avoid prolonged storage in domestic fridges, opt for cool, dark cellar conditions
Marsala Expiration	No set expiry date, but it will eventually become undrinkable