Wine Going Bad in a Nutshell
Before even opening the bottle, you might be able to see whether the wine has expired. It may be a brownish colour, or the cork might be a little pushed out from the bottle, meaning the wine has expanded or overheated.
When you uncork the bottle, two are the main signs you should focus on which will tell you if it is past its prime:
Can Wine Go Bad?
Some of you might have heard that wine can last indefinitely, but it’s more complicated than that. If the wine is unopened, then it can certainly last for a long time, some high quality examples lasting several years. Unfortunately however, regular wines tend to expire after a few years of storage. So make sure to read the label and check this information prior to your purchase.
Why Does Wine Go Bad?
The reasons why wine goes bad can depend on several factors. After a couple of years, bottles can overheat, causing the wine to lose its flavor and aroma, or the cork might start to let some air into the bottle, therefore causing the wine to oxidise.
How to Recognise Bad Wine
The Look
Even before opening, smelling, and tasting the wine, you might still be able to spot if a bottle has expired by its look. When a wine is exposed to oxygen - because the cork has let in some air - it will become brown in colour. If it is very brown, you may find that a lot of oxidation has occurred.
Red wines tend to show a brown hue, while white wines usually become either deep yellow or light brown, depending on the oxidation level. Generally, the more brown a wine is, the more oxidised it is.
The Smell
One of the first factors to consider when you’re trying to recognise bad wine is the smell.
Flavours that are common in wine faults are acetone (which smells like nail varnish remover or nail polish), vinegar, mould like in a musty basement, or a strong raisined smell.
Smells like these means that bacteria was free to grow inside the bottle and produce compounds like acetic acid.
The Taste
When you taste a faulty wine, you’ll probably immediately recognise if it has gone bad, especially if you already recognised the brownish colour and sour smell. Bad wine is usually characterised by a sharp and sour flavour that resembles vinegar and, in addition, due to the oxidation, you might notice a caramelised flavor that is similar to that of apple sauce.
Furthermore, if a still wine is fizzy or effervescent, then that’s a sign a second fermentation has occurred in the bottle and the wine shouldn’t be drunk.
Rest assured, faulty wines shouldn’t cause you any harm, but they are not pleasant to drink.
What Can You Do with Bad Wine?
Usually, faulty wine should be thrown away, however, it can sometimes be used in the kitchen. Old wine for instance can be used to marinate meat or even used to make wine jelly.
