What if wine cork leaks

If you spot some in the bottle before opening it, that can be an indicator for an air leak, too. Red wines that generally range from light red to dark purple turn to a brownish hue.

And white wines change from pale yellow to a color that you might describe as golden-brown or ocher. Your taste buds will help you identify flaws for sure. If the wine tastes moldy, extremely sharp, or just completely flat, it actually is spoiled. However, be aware that subtle differences in taste compared to other vintages of the same wine are not unusual.

They are the result of different weather conditions and not necessarily flaws. It smells and tastes awful, so there is no point in drinking it. Better pour it down the drain and open another bottle that is free of flaws. As a wine lover, you might be hesitant to pour your wine away. So the question of whether you can save a bad wine is understandable.

Unfortunately, there is bad news: No, there is no way to save an over-oxidized wine. And the same is true for TCA-infected wine. If your wine suffers from bottle sickness, there is hope, though.

You actually can cure this condition by exposing the wine to air. If you decant it for about 24 hours, it will slowly recover, open up, and release its delicate aromas. Sadly, most wines have only a short lifespan once you unseal them. You should finish whites but also young reds within 1 to 3 days after opening them.

It might be enjoyable for up to 5, maybe even 7 days, but not much longer. In any case, you should reseal an open bottle with a stopper and store it in the fridge.

There is one exception to these rules: fortified wine. These wines have a very high alcohol level that protects them against spoilage. Especially if they aged for a long time before bottling, they have a very long lifespan even after opening them.

For instance, good Port wine or Sherry is enjoyable for weeks, sometimes months after uncorking them. That might happen because the cork was infected with taint even before the bottle was sealed in the winery. Also, damaged corks can go unnoticed during production or transport and cause a tiny air leak that slowly oxidizes the wine. Yes, even when kept in a fridge, an open bottle of wine will go bad. It will take a little longer than wines stored at room temperature, but the final result will be the same: The wine will spoil.

Yes and no. However, like most liquids, wine expands when it freezes. And when that happens, it can push the cork out of the bottle and cause an air leak. As we know, an air leak leads to oxidation, and that does ruin the wine. Yes, absolutely. Heat is probably the worst thing that can happen to your wine.

Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions , from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And don't worry, I'm no wine snob—you can also ask me those "dumb questions" you're too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. I just opened a magnum of a Napa Valley Cabernet.

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