What happens to "old" white or red wine?!
What happens to "old" white or red wine?
Answers:
It turns to vinegar
some get better with age, some turn to vinegar
it becomes vinegar =(
It depends on whether or not it has been exposed to air, usually. If it has, the live cultures will continue to eat the sugars (ferment) and it will turn to vinegar. This can happen in the bottle, as well, if it is not sealed properly, I think.
It slowly turns to vinegar
It depends on certain factors, including exposure to sunlight, air, if there is leakage in the cork, how well the wine was maintained , i.e properly stored in the correct temperature on its side. Some grape varietals also have better aging characteristics, for example bordeaux's or barolo's seem to get better with age, riesling' s as well on the white side. Most new world wine is produced to consume immediatley, while old world styles, which rely less on fruit characteristics and more on terroir characteristics seem to be more produced for aging
Usually it becomes vinegar if you have opened the wine bottle. If it remains sealed it will age and become richer or fouler depending on the vintage and the vineyard from which it came.
If you don't use a Vacuvin vacuum stopper and don't keep it in the refridgerator, it will turn to vinegar. It is suprising but true that a wine with a Vacuvin or equivalent stopper is still not bad after 3 to 4 days in the refridgerator.
Nothing if it is a very good old red or white and still uncorked. But once the cork is opened due to aerobic reaction...wine turns into vinegar! "Vin Aigre" the french meaning a bitter acidic wine.