The shelf life of wine in China is generally ten years, while in foreign countries, wine generally has no shelf life. Instead, there is only a drinkable period, which ranges from one or two years to several decades, depending on the quality of the wine.

Red wine is not as good as the older the vintage. The vintage on red wine refers to the year the grapes were used to make it. Most (99%) of wines do not have the ability to age, and the optimal drinking period varies from wine to wine, generally between 2 - 10 years. Only a few exceptionally good wines have the ability to age. Some of the best red wines from France and Italy can age for decades or even hundreds of years. Many wines from top Bordeaux chateaux are still suitable for drinking even if they are kept for more than a century.