5 Telltale Signs of Bad Wine
Drawing the line between a bad wine versus a good wine with a distinct taste and smell, shall we say, comes easier with time. One kind of bad wine is called the corked wine, which has certain telltale factors. There are certain wines however, such as Madeira that is made in open outdoor vats that encourage oxidation and affects the taste of this wine. In general, there are certain signs that indicate a bad wine.
1. Protruding or Depressed Cork
If you’ve ever noticed that the cork extends beyond or well below the tip of the bottle, this is a pretty good sign of a bad wine bottle. This may be the result of heat exposure or cold exposure, which causes the wine to expand.  You could also try to turning the wrapping to see if it may be stuck by residue.
2. Corked Wine with a Musty Taste & Aroma
Sometimes during the aging process, a cork will become a microorganism meal. The result is that the wine, which comes into contact with the cork becomes contaminated with a chemical known as TCA; this is the corked wine definition. This type of bad wine tends to subdue a wine’s flavors, making it bland and sometimes bitter or when it’s more obvious, there will be a distinct moldy smell. Wine that has pieces of cork in it is not considered corked wine.
3. Oxidized Wine with an Off-Taste & Color
Some tastes that are associated with bad wine included, as mentioned above, moldy wet cardboard and smelly socks. Other tastes that may indicate a wine going bad are vinegar or a strong raisin smell. Also if a wine is fruitless or is reminiscent of paint thinner, this may also indicate a bad wine. Looking at a wine’s color requires a more acute sense of a wine’s quality, however in general, a brown tint in red wine and a deep yellow or brownish color in white way may indicate a bad wine.
4. Fizziness in a Still Wine
When yeasts that have lied dormant decide to wake up, the result is a second fermentation that occurs and causes a bad wine to form. This effervescence may be difficult to detect on the tongue, so incorporate all your senses and see if you perhaps notice bubbles.
5. Sedimention, Not a True Fault
Sedimentation is not generally seen as a true fault. Sedimentation in the form of little white tartrate crystals that accumulate at the bottom of a wine bottle or on the cork often occur in older wines and ports. They are a natural side-effect that occurs in unfiltered wines, but do not constitute a bad wine. But do decant such wines, since drinking this sediment is not a pleasant experience.
Steps to Avoid Corked Wine
Storing in a dark room around 60 degrees is a general suggestion to prevent a good wine from turning into a bad wine. Even , when shipped during the summer months, our very good wines have a greater danger of their tastes becoming compromised due to heat.  In fact, if you look at our  Wine on the Way shipping information; when it is really hot out, we will hold off shipping for the good of the wine. Shipping, while possible, during those times, is at the customer’s discretion. It’s also important to rotate your wine bottle every few months to prevent sediment build-up from occurring. Some vintage wines, if aged for too long, will turn into bad wine. Many of our wines will clearly state how long the bottle’s scan be cellared for that reason. If you have questions about shelf life or proper storage of your wines, feel free to drop us a line.  Today, winemaking has improved a great deal to maintain consistency, though certain wines may not appeal to one’s palette. Unfortunately, there might come a time when you may come across a bottle of corked wine. If you happen to come across such a situation, please just give us a call or email and Wine on the Way can send you another bottle of the same wine.
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