How long does red wine last unopened?

[Innkeeper]

Without proper storage, which was our situation most of our lives, would not buy any wine needing aging before drinking. This does not keep you away from much quantitatively speaking. Well over 90% of the wine produced in the world is ready to drink upon release. To be sure ask your retailer if the wine you are buying is ready or approachable. Such wines you can keep in the coolest place you have for up to a year or so. If you have only hot places, drop that to four to six months. By "hot" I mean upwards of 70 degrees F.