The Most Obvious Sign That Your Wine Is Corked (or Cooked)

Have you ever wondered if you can spot corked wine without even smelling or tasting it? While visiting the tasting room at Silver Oak, the guide showed us an obvious sign that an old, aged wine is no longer desirable. Look at the cork. If you notice that the cork has popped out of the bottle a bit and the foil is sort of bulging outward, the wine may be corked. This means the wine will smell and taste musty and moldy due to TCA, a chemical that forms when chlorine, mold, and plant phenols interact. Once you do open the wine, take a look at the cork itself. If there are veins of wine running down the length of the cork, that's not a good sign! When ordering at a restaurant, pay attention to these small details and don't be hesitant to send it back.

This phenomenon doesn't just occur with older vintages. It can happen due to heat too. According to Wine Spectator, wine with a semipopped cork could be cooked due to improper temperature storage. Heat destroys wine. When exposed to too much heat, the wine begins to expand and push the cork up. This can occur if you leave the wine out in a hot car, if your AC accidentally shuts off, or if you store the wine next to the oven or another object that radiates heat. The flavors of the wine will transform into an unappetizing liquid that tastes "stewed, baked, or canned."

Now, whether your wine is corked or cooked, it's harmless to drink but not recommended as it could cause adverse reactions like hives, rashes, shortness of breath, and an upset stomach. And not to state the obvious, but it won't smell or taste good, so why bother?