If you’re a fan of prosecco wine, then you may be wondering how long it lasts and whether or not it goes bad. In this blog post, we’ll answer those questions for you!
Prosecco is a sparkling wine that is made from grapes that are grown in the Veneto region of Italy. It is typically dry, but there are also sweet versions available.
So, how long does prosecco last? And does it go bad? Keep reading to find out!
Prosecco is less expensive than champagne, and it’s a great sparkling wine for special occasions. You might even want to have a glass or two to brighten up an ordinary day!
While you may believe stocking up your wine cellar with prosecco is a smart idea, have you begun to wonder how long the bubbles remain in prosecco? After all, there’s nothing worse than a flat bubbly!
Is it possible to store this wine for lengthy amounts of time, and is it also true that sealing the bottle after opening will extend its shelf life?
You don’t want to be disappointed when opening your favorite bottle of prosecco. Prosecco should be kept in a certain way to preserve its quality much like other alcoholic beverages. This beverage also has an expiration date before it starts to deteriorate.
Let’s have a look at the most frequent prosecco questions and concerns. We’ll go through what causes flavor changes in sparkling wine and how to prevent them, as well as the best way to store it while keeping it fresh.
What You Need to Know About Prosecco Varieties
Prosecco is a white Italian sparkling wine that has the reputation of being the champagne of Italy. While most people enjoy the bubbles in prosecco, you may also purchase semi-sparkling and still types.
When buying sparkling prosecco, it’s often referred to as spumante. The term tranquillo refers to the still sort of prosecco, while frizzante refers to the semi-sparkling variety.
Sparkling prosecco is the most popular flavor and has a longer perlage, an Italian term for the fizziness of the beverage. Furthermore, sparkling prosecco is classified into many subcategories as follows:
- Dry: Sugar content between 17 and 32 g/l.
- Extra dry: Variable sugar content of between 12 g/l and 17 g/l.
- Brut: Has a sugar content below 12 g/l.
- Demi-sec: Sugar content between 32 g/l and 50 g/l.
The sugar content of sparkling prosecco, like Champagne, must be considered when deciding on your favorite kind. If you enjoy the semi-sparkling prosecco, keep in mind that it has less perlage and is, therefore, less fizzy after being poured. Prosecco lacks any perlage, regardless of the type.
Prosecco drinkers frequently mix up this sparkling beverage with champagne.
However, each is a distinct alcoholic beverage that must be maintained in different ways. Prosecco, for example, will lose its peak of maturity rapidly if stored according to the same champagne storage guidelines.
How to Keep Prosecco for Later Opening
Keep your bottle of prosecco in a cool, dark spot to ensure that its texture and flavor profile is consistent. Exposing the beverage to too much light will change its flavor profile. The kind of prosecco you have will also play a role in determining how it should be stored.
Some individuals believe the refrigerator is ideal for keeping prosecco, but this is usually not the case.
The ideal storage environment should be cold, but for reasons we’ll address later, don’t store any of your prosecco in the fridge.
However, before serving prosecco, it should be kept in the fridge for a few hours. You may get an ideal serving temperature of between 6 and 8°C by putting prosecco in the refrigerator.
Prosecco should be kept standing up. If the bottles are laid down, the wine will come into touch with the cork, resulting in a deterioration in quality.
What Should I Do With My Prosecco After I’ve Opened It?
It’s hard to know how to finish a bottle of prosecco once it’s been opened, but it isn’t always feasible. This implies coming up with ways to keep it stored correctly after opening so you can consume it the next day.
Maintaining the fizziness of sparkling prosecco after removing the cork is difficult.
However, there are some techniques for keeping your sparkling wine fizzy for a few days after opening the bottle:
- Refrigerate the bottle: After removing the cap, place the bottle straight into the fridge. The release of gas bubbles is slowed by cold air.
- Use a wine stopper: Make sure to use one made specifically for sparkling wines. When stored in the refrigerator, these wine stoppers can keep your sparkling wine fresh for three to five days.
- Insert a teaspoon: Place a silver or metal teaspoon in the neck of the bottle for added preservation. This is an old wives’ tale, although it does appear to keep sparkling prosecco sparkling. Give it a try if you don’t have a wine stopper available..
While the methods described above allow you to drink your opened prosecco several days later, remember that the quality will be lower. The texture and taste of the beverage will deteriorate every hour it is exposed to air.
Prosecco has one of the shortest lifespans when the cork is removed, with experts suggesting drinking it open within three days to enjoy the quality and flavor of a fine wine.
Does Prosecco Go Bad?
You can expect your bottles of prosecco to last up to two years if you store them in a cool and dark location.
Prosecco does not generally go “bad,” but it does begin to lose its distinctive flavor profile and bubbles if you store the sparkling variety.
When older sparkling and semi-sparkling prosecco is uncorked, it frequently becomes flat.
Prosecco is also prone to going off quickly under high temperatures and high humidity. When you pour out prosecco, check to see if it’s yellow or brownish in color. A musty aroma and little or no carbonation are additional indications that your prosecco is bad.
If you want to taste your prosecco at its best, follow the advice of wine experts and drink it before it is two years old.
Experts advise drinking prosecco as soon after it is bottled as possible, and even within a year of that date. This way, not only will you enjoy the fizz, but you’ll also get to enjoy the fruity nuances of this sparkling wine.
Aging does not benefit most alcoholic beverages, however, this isn’t the case with prosecco. This is due to the high sugar content of the wine.
The sugar-to-acid ratio is not suitable for aging prosecco. You’ll wind up with old and flat wine if you leave it for longer than the recommended two years!
Does Unopened Prosecco Go Bad When Stored in the Refrigerator?
It’s fine to chill your prosecco before serving and store opened bottles in the refrigerator, but doing so is not recommended for keeping this wine unopened.
The main reason for this is that the refrigerator’s vibrations will affect the wine’s carbonation, changing both taste and aroma.
Every time you open your refrigerator, your prosecco is exposed to light. Despite the fact that this wine is packaged in darker bottles, light exposure still poses a hazard.
The cork on your bottle may wedge out slightly if it is kept in a too-cold environment, such as the refrigerator. This allows air to enter the container, lowering the carbonation of the prosecco and changing the wine’s quality.
Another disadvantage of a loose-fitting cork is that other foods in the fridge might pollute the champagne, affecting its taste and smell.
If you don’t drink your unopened prosecco right away, it will not “go bad” in the refrigerator. However, when you open it and drink it, you’ll be disappointed because it will lose its quality.
If you must keep your unopened bottle in the refrigerator, drink it within a month.
Also Read: KIRKLAND SIGNATURE COSTCO PROSECCO REVIEW
How Long Does Prosecco Keep After Opening?
After you’ve opened a bottle of prosecco, it’s best to refrigerate it. The longer you leave it at room temperature, the faster the bubbles will dissipate. Your opened prosecco should last between three and five days if kept in the refrigerator with a good wine stopper placed right after pouring.
When it comes to quality, you might think that the best prosecco is the most expensive. However, if you expect to drink all of a particular bottle at once, a higher-quality wine will stay fresher for longer after opening, so consider investing in a more pricey alternative when you believe you won’t consume it all at once.
However, don’t expect it to taste the same five days later!
If you can’t locate a wine stopper for sparkling wines, go to your local grocery store and buy a hermetic cork. These corks will preserve the bottle and may be kept in the refrigerator for a few days.
Another choice is using cellophane wrap and an elastic band to seal the top of the opened bottle.
This, however, is not the most effective way to seal prosecco after it’s been opened, so you should consume the rest of it by the end of the following day.
Although an opened bottle of prosecco may be kept for a few days, wine experts advise you to drink it within 24 hours after opening. Another idea is to buy smaller bottles of this wine to prevent waste or spoiled champagne.
Best Prosecco Storage Places
When a local grocery offers a great deal on prosecco, it’s all too easy to buy up several bottles. Decide if you have the right place for storing lots of prosecco before purchasing many bottles.
A few bottles of prosecco may be stored in a cool and dark cupboard in your kitchen or any other space.
A wine cellar is an excellent location to keep your spumante, Frizzante, or Tranquillo. However, if too much light enters the area, you’ll have to reconsider how much storage space you have for your prosecco.
Many bottles of prosecco may be stored in your garage, which is typically one of the finest locations to store them. This region is generally dim and cooler than other parts of your home.
Another excellent location to store this wine style is a basement. You must take into account the type of climate where you reside, though.
When it’s hot outside, the temperature of your basement and garage may differ, making them unsuitable for keeping your favorite bottle of sparkling wine.
What Should You Do With Leftover Prosecco?
If the notion of downing leftover prosecco doesn’t appeal to you, but you don’t want to toss it out, here are some ways to avoid squandering a nice sparkling wine:
- Ice cubes: They may be used to make a punch for the following party by freezing prosecco cubes. They might also be served in soda water for a touch of flair. Prosecco ice cubes are often added to gazpacho soup by some home cooks.
- Pancake syrup: Did you know that if you boil 125ml of prosecco and 125g of sugar, you can make a syrup to drizzle over your pancakes? Place the pan on low heat and mix the contents until the sugar is completely dissolved. Pour it over your pancakes or even ice cream when it’s ready.
- Salad dressing: Adding a spoonful or two of day-old prosecco to your white wine vinaigrette increases its taste.
- White wine sauce: Use your extra prosecco to add a unique touch to any pasta or seafood dish.
- Wine cocktail: If your visitors ask for a wine cocktail that needs a still white wine, use up what you have. Make sure it isn’t too old, though!
- Face mask: This is a more expensive approach to taking care of your skin. Make a face mask with leftover prosecco, organic yogurt, and honey. Combine the ingredients together and leave on your skin for 15 minutes.
Extra prosecco is not required to be thrown out, but it should always be kept in the refrigerator before being used in any of the above recipes.
Also Read: CHAMPAGNE VS PROSECCO
Final Thoughts
Many people enjoy Prosecco, a wonderfully light and fruity white wine. The sparkling version is a less expensive champagne substitute that still delivers pleasure on most occasions.
Make sure you always get a good-quality prosecco, since it will last up to two years.
Prosecco has a shorter lifespan than other alcoholic beverages, so keep that in mind while you’re enjoying it. To get the most out of drinking your favorite prosecco, drink it young and within one year of its bottling date.