Updated March 2026
There is no official unopened-year clock for wine. Read vintage, closure, and how it was stored. US table wine is 27 CFR Part 4. Typical lots sit near 12% Official leftover years unused. Fortified and dessert-wine lots are a different alcohol band. Screwcap vs cork is closure talk, not a TTB type. Do not invent a decade.
Related: how long Pinot Grigio lasts, how long Stella Rosa lasts, how long mulled wine lasts.
Storage vs class
| Language | Note |
|---|---|
| Table wine | Typical 12% |
| Unopened years | — vintage / storage |
| Fortified / dessert | Neck |
| 5 oz at 12% | From labeled ABV |
| Best-by list | No ranking |
Cool, dark, and upright or on the side as the closure wants. Pair: what is a sweet wine.
Sources
- 27 CFR Part 4. Typical US table ~12% Official leftover years unused.
- NIAAA December 2025.
- NIAAA one drink