How Long Does Shiraz Last? (Expert Guide)

Dark-skinned and sun-soaked, there really is nothing better than a large glass of Shiraz with a barbecue. Big, lush, sweet and ripe it’s the epitome of New World red wine. 

But if you don’t get round to finishing the bottle how long can you expect your Shiraz to last for?

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How Long Does Shiraz Last Opened?

Just like all red wines really, Shiraz will be good to drink for up to 4 days after opening. 

But what about unopened bottles?

How long are your unopened bottles of Shiraz good for?

How Long Does Shiraz Last Unopened?

Most Shiraz wines will be best drunk within a 5 year timeline. 

Good quality Shiraz wine with lots of ageing potential may be able to last for a decade unopened, as long as the bottles are stored well. 

But what does it mean to store a wine well?

Let’s start with storing opened bottles of Shiraz, first:

How To Store Opened Shiraz

To keep your Shiraz fresher for longer once it has opened you need to reduce the amount of oxygen that will come into contact with the wine.

Here are a couple of tips to store your opened Shiraz wines:

• Always tightly stopper your opened Shiraz and try to keep the bottle in a cool and dark environment away from disturbances. 
• A wine fridge does a perfect job of keeping opened Shiraz in ideal conditions but a cupboard or garage will work well, too.

Related: How To Store Red Wine

But what about unopened bottles of Shiraz?

How To Store Unopened Shiraz

Store unopened bottles of Shiraz somewhere cool and dark, with minimal interruptions from vibrations and loud noises. Ideally unopened Shiraz is kept at a temperature of 12°C - 14°C.

Think of a Shiraz as your introverted friend and try not to disturb them too much!

Specialised wine storage is great here, and at Expert Wine Storage we can help with any questions you may have.

So will Shiraz wine go bad?

Does Shiraz Go Bad? 

Shiraz may be the biggest and boldest of the red wine world but just like other red wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz will go bad over time. 

So what are the signs that a Shiraz has gone bad?

How Can You Tell If Shiraz Has Gone Bad?

Here are some of the tell-tale signs that a Shiraz is no longer good:

• The Shiraz will look dull in colour and may even have turned brown. 
• Very simply, if the Shiraz has gone bad it will smell bad too. If you don’t get any appetising aromas from the glass then don’t risk a sip.
• Finally, how does the Shiraz taste? If it tastes very thin and very sour, with none of its trademark richness and ripeness, then it’s time to say au revoir to the bottle.

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

Do You Keep Opened Shiraz In The Fridge?

Yes, you can put opened Shiraz in the fridge.

If using a domestic fridge, just make sure to take your bottle out so it can warm up a little before drinking as kitchen fridges will leave your Shiraz too cold to drink for optimal enjoyment! 

Ideally Shiraz is served at a temperature of 15°C - 18°C or 59°C - 65°C.

Shiraz is not a drink best served cold! 

Specialised wine coolers, on the other hand, are fantastic for storing your opened Shiraz in and will ensure perfectly consistent temperatures for your Shiraz. 

So can unopened Shiraz go in the fridge as well?

Do You Keep Unopened Shiraz In The Fridge?

If you have a wine cooler then you can keep your Shiraz in there for as long as you like, the conditions will be perfect. However, try to avoid keeping Shiraz in a kitchen fridge for long periods of time.

They haven't been designed with wine in mind and will keep your wine too cold and may even dry out the cork over time. Best save that fridge for things like cheese, instead.  

So try to put your unopened Shiraz bottles somewhere cool with little (or ideally no) exposure to noise, light and vibrations.

That should keep your collection very content for some time. 

But does Shiraz have an expiration date?

Does Shiraz Expire? 

Just like all the wonderful wines in our lives, Shiraz will eventually become undrinkable if left for too long.

A Shiraz’s lifespan will vary from maker to maker, so remember it’s always better to drink something a little too early than far too late.

Grab some friends, heat the barbecue up and drink that Shiraz whilst you know it’s still good!

Before You Go... 

We hope this provides you all the information you may need on how long does Shiraz last?

Interested to know more about how long wine lasts?

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

Expert Wine Storage can help you find a luxury wine fridge to store your precious wine collection.