2007-01-15 23:45:55 · 15 answers · asked by sejones1234 1 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
Only if you stored it wrong. If you have keep it in a cool dry dark place then wine actually gets better and it gets older.
2007-01-15 23:51:11 · answer #1 · answered by Toni B 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It is very unlikely that your wine will turn to vinegar in a couple of years, unless the cork goes bad. Storing it on its side will help prevent this.
Despite what many people think, there are virtually no wines that really get better with age. Almost all wines are released at the time when it is best to drink them. The wine will likely not change much over the course of a year, but it will not get any better. Slowly, the wine will likely get a little worse over time. This can happen faster if the wine is not protected from light, heat (above 60F) or cold (below 45F). It will not be as good as if you were to simply drink it today, but it will be ok.
Why not drink it now? You will be able to buy more wine 2 years from now. Can't drink it now? Give it away and get a new bottle when you can drink it. Really want to wait - ok, but store it on its side in a cool, dry place.
2007-01-16 09:14:42 · answer #2 · answered by Waldeck 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are so many answers here that are half right...
Most wines are meant to be drunk upon release, and do not improve with age. Thus, like men, only some wines improve with age.
Your question refers to a "good bottle," which I would take to mean one that is meant to be aged before it is ready to drink, in which case, it should not go bad, provided that it is properly stored or cellared.
There are 4 components of cellaring that wine requires:
Consistent temperatures of around 55 F
Consistent humidity of around 70%
Vibration free environment
Darkness
Of course, the bottles should be stored on their sides to ensure that the corks do not dry out and shrink.
Now, providing that the wine has not been stored at temperatures significantly above 70 F for an extended period of time, or left in direct sunlight, and that it has been stored on its side and that it was, of course, meant to be aged in the first place, the wine will have improved during the time it was held.
Whether it is ready to drink is a separate question that cannot be answered without taking into account the producer and the vintage. Temperatures above 55 F accelerate aging, and temperatures above 70 F accelerate it rapidly.
2007-01-16 10:22:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely it can go bad. Wine must be kept at a constant even temperature and not exposed to light to maintain its quality and flavour over long periods of time. If you're only talking a year or two, keep it in a dark, cool place stored on its side, and it should be fine.
Too many people keep wine on wine racks in their living rooms where the temperature fluctuates, often dramatically, from season to season and slowly renders the wine bad.
As an example, my sister's clients often give her bottles of wine as gifts and, as she's not a wine drinker, they sat for years on a wine rack, exposed to light during the day all year round and warm temperatures in the summer. When she finally gave them to me, they weren't even worth cooking with anymore.
2007-01-16 12:36:25 · answer #4 · answered by Chanteuse_ar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely, if it's corked. That means the cork is bad or didn't seal properly allowing air into the bottle. You'll have the raunchiest wine. If the cork has discoloration and seepage, or crumbles badly upon opening, it's corked. Then just throw it out.
Otherwise most wines do get better with age.
2007-01-16 12:17:45 · answer #5 · answered by chefgrille 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, if it's un-opened, unless it was bad to begin with, it will get better with age. Make sure to keep it cooler, don't store it in sunlight or like, on top of a fridge where it would stay warm. Once it's opened though, it will oxidize and kinda taste and smell vinegar-ey. Try like a cellar or even a wine cooler.
2007-01-16 13:35:38 · answer #6 · answered by miss allison 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lou C.'s answer is fairly complete. I would only add that it also depends on if you are discussing a red, rose', or white wine. Most whites are best purchased and consumed fairly promptly after release from the vintner. In contrast, most red wines benefit from aging, with the exception of the "Nouveau" red wines (Beaujolias being the most popular), which are released in November every year, ready to be consumed immediately.
2007-01-16 08:18:23 · answer #7 · answered by GCC 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Store in cool dry place. Most important must store on its side, cork must stay wet. It cork does not stay wet air gets in and it will turn vinegary and spoil. Wine is about aging.
Some wine can be enjoyed immediately. Some homemade wine is ready in months and never gets corked. Folks enjoy it annually a few months after grape season.
2007-01-16 08:05:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to popular belief, not all wine is meant to age. Alcohol is the preservative in wine and the lighter (less alcohol) wines will spoil over time.
To help preserve it, you can also keep it cold.
2007-01-16 23:44:05 · answer #9 · answered by dogglebe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It most certainly can. Many people are surprised to find that their wine has turned to vinegar when opening it.
2007-01-16 08:44:57 · answer #10 · answered by Vincent W 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋