Sometimes, a wine doesn't suit your tastes and sometimes it is just a bad bottle. A common problem, especially when ordering at a restaurant, is oxidation. Wine does "turn" when left open, due to the chemical interaction between oxygen and phenols in the wine.
Identification
An oxidized wine tastes thin or stale, with its rich color and aroma giving way to that of a watery vinegar.
Considerations
Over the course of just a few hours (generally, no more than a day or two) exposure to oxygen causes a wine to degenerate.
Misconceptions
"Corking" is sometimes mistaken for oxidation. To check, make sure that the cork isn't warped or stained along the sides (a sign that the seal the cork provided wasn't complete).
Prevention/Solution
Though the best solution is to drink wine within a few hours of opening the bottle, you can replace the air in a partially empty bottle with an inert gas (applicators for which are widely available at wine retailers), which will stall the oxidation process for a few more hours.
Expert Insight
When ordering wine by the glass at a restaurant, always ask if it was opened that day. If not, order something else.
Tags: