' How to tell if your wine has gone bad - VanArnam Vineyards
How to tell if your wine has gone bad
10/13/2021

Welcome Back! 

How can you tell if your wine has gone bad?

 

Truth is many of us can't tell if wine has gone bad. If your wine has been on the counter for a couple days, it may begin to taste off but still be drinkable. Often, you can tell if your wine is bad before you even open the bottle.  If the cork is loose or dislodged, it is likely that it has already turned.  Here are some sure-fire ways to determine if your wine has gone bad. 

  1. All varieties of wine should be clear.  If it appears cloudy or you can see sediment at the bottom, it’s most likely bad.

  2. Check the color.  Red wine will become brownish and white wine will also turn a brownish tint. 

  3. Smell your wine.  When it turns it smells quite a bit like vinegar.  Other common aromas that indicate that your wine is bad might include wet cardboard, wet dog or nail-polish remover. 

  4. Taste your wine.  Take a sip, I promise, it won’t kill you.  LOL. Bad wine will have a vinegary taste.  Before that stage, it may lose the fruity flavors or taste slightly nutty.

What happens if you drink old wine?

There is a big difference between old wine and aged wine. 

The aging of fine wine is done in sealed, corked bottles that are correctly stored in a cellar for long periods of time. 

Old wine is simply wine that is past its prime.  If it hasn’t yet turned bad, with the qualities outlined above, your wine will probably just lack the delicious fruity flavors that make it so desirable and may taste slightly nutty. 

 

Drinking old wine will not make you ill.  You can use old wine in your cooking with no concerns.  It’s great for marinades, sauces and soups.

If you stick to these guidelines for shelf life and learn how to identify bad wine, you are well on your way to enjoying wine for many years to come.

 

Cheers!

 

Noelle

 
Post By:   Noelle Cook