How long does wine have to sit to become brandy?

Question

I have a bottle of very very old bottle wine from my Grandfather. It's about 60 years old; don’t know where he got it, but its labeled Bordeaux. Now I have a friend who tells me it isn't wine anymore, that it has turned to into brandy. Is this true or do I have a good old wine in my hands?

PS should I drink it? Or even better; is it safe to drink?

Answer 1

If wine is not stored appropriately, it will change to vinegar, not brandy. It is very easy for a bottle of wine to go bad, and therefore, I would not suggest drinking it. Check the cork. If the cork is not 100%flat on the top and not rotten, I might open it and check it out. If you have had it setting in a place that is not too warm (I'm talking not above 80*F) it should hold. Look up the vintage on google and see what it comes up with. You may have a pretty neat posession and you might want to hold onto it! Cool story!!!

Answer 2

as other writers have said wine becomes vinegar not brandy. Find a good wine store and ask them to decipher the label for you.
The French have many rules about exactly what can be placed on a wine label. Every thing on that label means something very specific. This is done to guarantee quality-and to some degree to keep the snob appeal intact.
I found a web site www.bordeaux.com/label
sorry that my computer skills haven't evolved to where i can put in links in text-one day I'll figure it out

Answer 3

When wine spoils, it becomes vinegar, not brandy, so you might have vinegar...

Honestly, I'd hold on to the bottle. It's either spoiled or (unless you're well experienced with drinking fine wine) not easily appreciated. It makes a better story, having come from your grandfather and all, than it makes a wine, likely.

PS - Brandy is a distilled version of wine.

Answer 4

can wine turn into brandy?
you can probably drink it, but it may have turned into vinegar with bad storing.

Answer 5

Don't drink it. I could be worth alot of money.