How Long Can You Store Chardonnay And Have It Drinkable?

Join Wine Spectator’s 2026 Grand Tour Tastings! Tickets are on sale now for Denver, San Diego and Tampa!

• Ratings
• Insider Weekly
• Wine IQ
• News
• Top 100
• Wine & Culture
• Vintage Charts
• Food
• Restaurants
• Video

Apr 7, 2010

Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And don't worry, I'm no wine snob—you can also ask me those "dumb questions" you're too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And don't forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.

Dear Dr. Vinny,

How long can you store Chardonnay and have it drinkable? Five years or less?

—Chrissy, California

Dear Chrissy,

Most wines, red or white, are made to drink well upon release and are best enjoyed while still young and fresh, so I would agree with your “five years or less” assessment. But some of the best Chardonnays in the world (white Burgundy and others) can age for a decade or more. An older Chardonnay will taste different from its younger self, as secondary notes of spice, nuts and earth will come into play and some of the fresh fruitiness will fade.

Even more than with red wines, good cellar conditions are critical for whites if they are to age well. A white wine exposed to heat or fluctuating temperatures is not going to age well at all.

—Dr. Vinny

Collecting Storage White Wines Chardonnay Ask Dr. Vinny

More In Dr. Vinny

Ask Dr. Vinny

Is it OK to bring your own wineglasses to a restaurant?

You love a restaurant’s food but hate its small wineglasses. How should you approach …

• Dr. Vinny

Feb 17, 2026 Ask Dr. Vinny

Can you take Champagne out of the refrigerator once it’s cold? Does it hurt wine to heat up and chill down again?

You didn’t open that bottle of bubbly, and now you need to free up fridge space. What’s the …

• Dr. Vinny

Feb 10, 2026 Ask Dr. Vinny

Is vermouth made from wine, and should it be refrigerated after it’s open?

How the aromatized, fortified wine is made—and how to store your bottles to keep them fresh

• Dr. Vinny

Feb 2, 2026 Ask Dr. Vinny

What’s the best way to open up a tight wine?

Why young wines can be closed off or inexpressive—and how to help them show their best

• Dr. Vinny

Jan 26, 2026 Ask Dr. Vinny

What’s the difference between NV, MV and vintage Champagne? Which is best?

With NV, MV and vintage sparkling wines, winemakers can spotlight the character of a single …

• Dr. Vinny

Jan 13, 2025 Ask Dr. Vinny

Dr. Vinny’s Top Questions of 2025

The year’s most popular wine questions, from pairings to storage to travel and beyond

• Dr. Vinny

Dec 22, 2025

Free Wine Spectator Email Newsletters

Sign Up for Wine Spectator’s Free Email Newsletters and stay up-to-date with all things wine.

Explore Newsletters

WineRatings+

• 

Wine Spectator Podcasts

• Get the App