Wine Question

[no_hypocrisy]

I have a bottle of white wine, bottled in 1988, never opened. Lying on its side with wine around cork.

But not refrigerated or in a cool place. Dark place, but again, not cooled.

Can the wine still go bad and it will be vinegar when it's opened? Or will the only test is the tongue when it's finally opened?

[irisblue]

1. Taste test

If no longer drinkable, then with olive oil for a salad dressing.

[dhill926]

2. test it...but I would be shocked...

if it was any good. If it's a deep color....probably spoiled...

drink it sooner next time!...

[brush]

3. It's probably gone, but give it a taste.

[Major Nikon]

4. Some wines store better than others

I've had cabernets that were kept for ~10 years and were incredible and I've had wines that went bad after a several months. Some wines are intended to be consumed immediately after purchase while others get much better when aged a bit.

IIRC, wine stores best at 55F in a dark place, which is the temperature I have my wine storage cooler set. Temperatures above this are less than ideal, but not necessarily bad.

[Saviolo]

5. No way to know until it's opened

Just repeating what everyone else has confirmed.

Three tests:
Look test. If there is a lot of sediment or cloudiness (especially odd for a white wine) it's likely well past its drinkable date.
If it looks fine:
Sniff test. If you notice things like "wet dog," "musty," or "blue cheese" you might either be dealing with crappy wine or long expired wine.
If it smells okay:
Taste test. Just a little one! That's a long time for white wine that's not champagne, but it's possible it's still drinkable.

I'm very curious as to the outcome! Please report back.

[pnwest]

6. All of what Saviol said . Bookmarking,

I would love to know too! Even tho on its side, if not cool enough, probably turned. But you never know!

[no_hypocrisy]

7. All right y'all, thank you!

I'll open it up in about a week and report back.

Either the golden draught will be fit for the Gods or vinegar fit for a salad.

[customerserviceguy]

8. I'd be very surprised

if it were drinkable. I'd say that about a bottle of white wine from 1998, too.

I'm about to put the theory to the test, I uncovered about a case of assorted white wines that my lady has been keeping behind a bunch of stuff for decades. Being as we're moving, they have to either be tossed or consumed, I doubt they will even smell OK.

[WhiteTara]

9. General rule for wines...white wine

should be less than 2 years old and red wine should be older than 2 years.

Only by opening the bottle will you know if it's good or bad...start with little sips!

[Hate Germs]

10. bake

If it smells poorly use it on meats when roasting them.

[no_hypocrisy]

11. Or I suppose marinating too.