Marsala wine is one of the most famous fortified wines coming from Sicily. It is most commonly used in cooking as it creates nutty, rich, and caramelized taste – especially in sauces.

What’s more, this wine is so much more than just a cooking ingredient as it can be sipped casually as well as enjoyed in many other ways. However, when purchasing any sort of wine, it is very important to know how long it can be safely stored at home.

How Long Does Marsala Wine Last? Once opened, Marsala wine will remain fresh for about 4 to 6 months. After that time, it will start losing its flavor and scent. However, if you’d like to keep it longer, you can place it in a cool and dark place and remove the oxygen before putting on the lid – you can do that using a can of wine preserver.

What’s more, if the bottle has been opened, it can be safely stored in the fridge although it is not a requirement.

In addition to that, there is so much more to know about this unique Sicilian wine and its storage.

How long does Marsala wine last unopened?

If you buy a high-quality Marsala wine or even a commercially bottled one, this type of wine will last indefinitely. Since it is fortified and has a higher alcohol content, it can be stored for a very long period of time if still unopened and sealed. The only thing to make sure is that you store it properly – in a cool, dark room with not much humidity and no direct sunlight.

In addition to that, Marsala wine that has not been opened doesn’t have to be kept in the fridge and will do well in a dark cupboard or on a shelf.

How to store Madeira wine after opening?

After opening, Madeira wine will usually maintain its best quality for about 3 years. However, if stored in good conditions, without any direct sunlight, it might be safe to consume and fresh for even longer.

Similar to Marsala wine, Madeira wine also has high alcohol and sugar content, so it can be stored for a longer period of time than other wines.

Does Marsala wine have to be stored in the fridge?

A commercially bottled Marsala wine is fortified with strong alcohol, which makes it last very long, just like any strong liquor would. As a result, it doesn’t have to be stored in the fridge after opening.

With that being said, though, Marsala wine can be stored in the fridge, especially if you will primarily use it for cooking. Keeping your Marsala wine in the fridge ensures that the wine is cool and not exposed to direct sunlight – which are all culprits in wine going bad.

Can Marsala wine go bad?

Marsala’s high alcohol content translates to longevity. As a result, Marsala wine does not tend to go bad – it will not make you sick if you drink it after its expiration date – but it will start losing its flavors.

Nevertheless, just like any other wine, Marsala can go off. In order to prevent that, Marsala wine has to be stored properly, in a cool place, and tightly closed to avoid any flavors to escape.

How to tell if Marsala wine has gone bad?

Even though Marsala wine is a long-lasting wine, sometimes it does go off. Once Marsala wine is no longer drinkable, the wine will have an off scent, different color, and smell – often similar to rotten grapes and raspberries.

Another way you can determine whether Marsala wine has gone bad is to check for residue on the wine glass after pouring. This indicates that the wine has started to ferment. When that happens, the wine will also smell like vinegar. If that occurs, discard the wine.

Does Marsala cooking wine go bad?

Marsala comes in two varieties – regular Marsala and Marsala cooking wine. The cooking version of this fortified wine has a higher sugar content, making it a perfect addition to many dishes.

Even though there is a special version for cooking, you can use regular Marsala as well since they contain the same grapes and notes.

When cooking with wine, it’s important to remember that wine is also an ingredient, which means that you should always use quality wine and make sure that it is safe to consume. As a rule, if you wouldn’t drink the wine, you should also not cook with it.

With that being said, Marsala cooking wine may go bad, but it rarely happens. It should be stored in a dry, cool place without any sunlight. That way, there is a slim chance of it going bad or losing its flavors.

How to preserve Marsala wine?

Generally, an unopened Marsala wine bottle can be stored in a cabinet, without any direct sunlight or humidity. Since it’s a wine that’s fortified with strong liquor, it allows Marsala to last for a long period of time, up to many years.

Once opened, Marsala should be properly preserved and kept in the fridge. It’s also vital to close the bottle tightly in order to prevent any fermentation.

There is no special way of preserving your wine, but it rarely goes off on its own – it needs bacteria to start growing in it and it takes a long time for that to happen.

Can Madeira wine be consumed past its expiration date?

Just like Marsala wine, Madeira wine is fortified and has a high sugar content, making it last longer than other types of wine. As a result, this wine can last for years on end if stored properly.

If the wine is past its expiration date, it is often still safe to consume. An expiration date often reflects the safest amount of time that a product is fresh, but oftentimes, the number can be inaccurate, especially for fortified wines and other alcohols. You just have to check that it has not started to ferment, does not smell like vinegar or hasn’t changed its color.

Moreover, although Madeira wine can be consumed after its expiration date has passed, it can start losing its flavor and notes. Hence, make sure that you check the condition your wine is in prior to cooking or drinking it.

What type of Marsala wine lasts the longest?

As a result, Marsala wine that has been corked rather than sealed with a cap lasts the longest. This is due to the fact that the cork closes off the oxygen supply which ferments the wine and affects its flavor. Hence, if you’re looking for a Marsala bottle that, once opened, will last very long, it’s best to opt for a corked version.

On top of that, corked Marsala wines usually come directly from Sicily, which makes them the best versions, ensuring that the wine will not go off.

How to safely store dishes made with Marsala wine?

Given the conditions, any type of food can go bad. Marsala is a cooking wine often used in preparing various dishes, such as chicken marsala, tiramisu, or zabaglione. These types of foods can be frozen in a tightly sealed container and consumed within 4-5 months.

Since this is a fortified wine, it helps preserve foods and ensures intense and fresh flavor, even if defrosted later on. In addition to that, certain dishes made with Marsala wine can be stored in cupboards, depending on the ingredients used.