What Are Signs Wine Has Gone Bad?
Cork taint creates a moldy, mushroom smell (TCA contamination). Excessive oxidation tastes vinegary or sherry-like in non-fortified wines. Leakage around the cork causes rapid spoilage.
Color is a clue: very dark brown (reds) or deep golden (whites) suggests over-oxidation, especially if paired with musty or flat flavors. Trust your senses—if it smells off, don't drink it.
How Long Can Wine Actually Last?
Most everyday wines (80% of production) are meant to drink within 1-5 years. Premium Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Barolo can improve for 20-50+ years. Fortified wines (Port, Madeira) can last 100+ years.
Storage conditions heavily influence lifespan. A wine stored perfectly might age 30 years; the same bottle stored poorly degrades in 5 years.
Can Really Old Wine Still Be Good?
Yes, absolutely. A 30-year-old Bordeaux stored correctly develops incredible tertiary complexity—leather, earth, tobacco, dried fruit. These flavors are prized and often superior to youth.
However, very old wines are risky without provenance. You can't know storage history. At fine dining restaurants, old wines from prestigious cellars carry higher prices because the house guarantees quality.
How Do You Know If Old Wine Is Worth Drinking?
Check the bottle: high shoulder/low level suggests evaporation and possible oxidation. Look at the color and clarity. If cork is crumbly or wine leaks around it, that's a red flag.
Taste a small amount. If it's woody, flat, and lacks structure, it's past prime. If it shows complexity and freshness despite age, you've found a gem. Old doesn't mean good; condition matters.