How Long Does Sherry Last? Opened, Unopened, Does It Expire, Go Bad

Generally, an unopened bottle of Sherry can last 1 to 5 years. While an opened bottle of Sherry lasts a few days to a year. The shelf life of Sherry varies depending on its style and whether the bottle is opened or unopened. 

It's important to keep in mind that the time Sherry lasts is heavily effected by the  type of Sherry itself.

How Long Does Sherry Last Opened?

Depending on the type of Sherry, an opened bottle can either last you 1-3 days or a few months:

• Try to drink the drier styles, like Manzanilla and Fino Sherry, within 1-3 days of opening.
• Sweeter styles of Sherry, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximenex, can last 2-3 months after opening.

But what about those unopened bottles you’ve been saving for a special occasion?

How Long Does Sherry Last Unopened?

As with all things Sherry, the answer here very much depends on the style. 

• Unopened Fino, Manzanilla and Pedro Ximenex can last 2-3 years.
• Amontillado and Palo Cortado can last a little bit longer, around 3 years if the bottle is unopened.
• Last but not least, Oloroso can last for about 5+ years if stored well.

It’s worth noting that if any of these styles have been blended with cream then they will only keep well for about a year.

How To Store Opened Sherry 

Make sure to put a stopper in your sherry and keep it in a cool, dark and quiet area.

A wine fridge is ideal here but if not a kitchen fridge will be just fine. 

How To Store Unopened Sherry

Unopened sherry will like lots of quiet and calm, so store any unopened bottles of Sherry somewhere: cool and dark, where there will be minimal interruptions from vibrations and loud noises. 

Unlike red and white wine, store your unopened Sherry upright, as this will help to reduce the amount of oxygen that comes into contact with the wine. 

Wine cellars or wine coolers work great here, and if you have any questions about specialised wine storage please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Does Sherry Go Bad?

Sherry is a fortified wine which means it’s a pretty hardy tipple, but even then, it’s still capable of diminishing over time. 

How Can You Tell If Sherry Has Gone Bad?

Luckily for us, there are some really obvious tell tale signs that a Sherry has gone bad:

• Keep an eye out for lots of sediment appearing in the glass or bottle, as this is a sign of overly oxidised Sherry. 
• If the cork is so dry it is crumbling into the glass then it’s safe to say the Sherry isn’t in a position to be drunk.
• If you can smell Sherry vinegar instead of just Sherry then it’s time to get rid of the bottle.
• Take a sip, if the Sherry tastes flat and sour and unpleasant to drink then it’s safe to say the Sherry is no longer good.

Do You Keep Opened Sherry In The Fridge?

Yes, you absolutely should keep opened Sherry in the fridge! 

Reinsert the original cork, make sure to place the bottle upright and then the fridge will do the rest.

Related Guide: Red Wine Storage Temperature Guide

Do You Keep Unopened Sherry In The Fridge?

If you have a specialised wine fridge then you can keep any unopened bottles of Sherry there, safe in the knowledge they’ll be stored in perfect conditions.

However, if you don’t have a wine fridge you can always opt for a wine cellar or just a place in your home with little exposure to noise, light and vibrations such as a garage or pantry. 

Does Sherry Expire?

We are sorry to say that just because Sherry has been fortified does not mean that it is immortal.

Sherry will diminish over time, so be sure to drink those bottles whilst they’re still good!

Before You Go... 

Check out our full guide here:

How Long Does Wine Last

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, or email us at info@expertwinestorage.co.uk

You can browse more posts on Wine Types here

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