Old Wine: How Can I Tell If My Old Wine Is Still OK To Drink?
The truth is, only about 1% of the wines made are the type that will benefit from careful aging. All the rest are made to be consumed right away. Not every dusty old bottle of wine is even fit for consumption. A wine that has survived its shelf life may not turn to vinegar as it did before the modern winemaking techniques but the best thing that may be said about it is that it is indeed old.
It is really quite easy to tell if the wine has any value as a drinking wine. Smell and taste alone are two of the prime indicators of a wine gone bad. The wine will also have a dull, flat and brownish appearance. The oxidation will most often make it look like it's a really bad Sherry.
Wines that age well are generally the hearty red wines, the Burgundy, Rhone's and Bordeaux in France and the Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah made in America. You will also be able to age Italian reds as well as the Riesling's from Germany. Ports as a rule will get better as they age. Keeping this in mind let's take a look at some of the other factors that determine how long a wine is potable.
How a wine is stored will also determine how long it can be held before drinking. The ideal temperature for storing wine is 55F, this translates to 13C, and this is considered to be optimum Cellaring temperature. If the wine in question has been stored at a temperature above this, chances are it is not fit to drink. Wines must be stored at a temperature that is also constant or they will be ruined. If you notice a great deal of volume loss within a bottle of wine this is a very bad sign. Leaking around the cap is also a telltale sign of wine gone bad.
Although drinking a wine that is past its prime may be an exercise that tests your taste buds, it doesn't make you ill. It is not considered unhealthy nor is it toxic. If you want to use the bottle for a celebration, go ahead, but have a plan" just in case. Your guest may just rather leave the party than try to drink the contents of that old bottle. When in doubt try something new and fresh. Grandma's old bottle of wine may have seen all of its better days.
About the Author
Pat Lindle is the co-owner of the http://www.ibuywineonline.com and of http://www.winebuyersco.com Web sites. Visit both today.
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