While it doesn’t have the same prestige as bottled wine, boxed wine can be great for entertaining large parties. However, it has a shorter shelf life than its bottled counterpart.

Boxed wines typically include a “best by” label on the box, which should indicate how long the box will last. An unopened box usually lasts between six and eight months.

As boxed wine is stored in a plastic bladder that is more porous than a glass bottle, it’s more prone to oxidization, which causes it to lose its luster over time.

On the plus side, unlike bottled wines, which generally begin to turn three to five days after opening, boxed wine can last six weeks in the fridge once opened.