Can drinking an old wine make you sick? | Wine Spectator (2024)
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Dear Dr. Vinny,
Can drinking an old wine such as Port literally make you sick?
—M., Bridgewater, Mass.
Dear M.,
Well, you certainly can get ill if you drink too much Port—or too much of anything, for that matter. Overindulging will almost always lead to unpleasant symptoms.
But it sounds like you’re wondering if a wine spoils as it gets older, and the answer is no. The alcohol acts as a preservative. In fact, some of the best wines I’ve ever had have been older than I am, including a Port that was older than I’ll probably ever be.
Of course, that’s the best-case scenario, when a wine is built for aging (the best Vintage Ports have very long lives ahead of them) and stored in optimal conditions. The worst-case scenario would be a wine that hasn’t aged well and is just old. In that case, the wine will have lost its fruit flavors and taken on nutty notes, and the color will have started to turn brown. It’s not harmful, but it won’t taste good. Even on the rare chance that a wine has turned to vinegar, it would be unpleasant to drink, but not dangerous.
The worst-case scenario would be a wine that hasn't aged well and is just old. In that case, the wine will have lost its fruit flavors and taken on nutty notes, and the color will have started to turn brown. It's not harmful, but it won't taste good.
Typically, wine spoilage occurs due to oxidation, meaning that the wine may turn to vinegar. Although it may taste unpleasant, it is unlikely to cause harm. However, spoilage due to microbes may result in food poisoning.
Can old wine make you sick? No, not really. There's nothing too horrific lurking in poorly aged wine that would have you running to the emergency room. However, the liquid that could come out of that bottle may make you feel sick from the color and smell alone.
The best way to enjoy your wine fresh is to drink it shortly after you purchase it. However, you can still enjoy unopened wine about 1–5 years after the expiration date, while leftover wine can be enjoyed 1–5 days after it has been opened, depending on the type of wine.
You may be allergic to one of the substances in alcohol (a chemical, grain or preservative, such as sulfite). The symptoms differ slightly. Both alcohol intolerance and an allergy can cause nausea. But the hallmark symptom of alcohol intolerance is flushing of the skin of the chest, neck and face.
But it sounds like you're wondering if a wine spoils as it gets older, and the answer is no. The alcohol acts as a preservative. In fact, some of the best wines I've ever had have been older than I am, including a Port that was older than I'll probably ever be.
Drinking old wine will not make you sick, but it will likely start to taste off or flat after five to seven days, so you won't get to enjoy the wine's optimal flavors. Longer than that and it'll start to taste unpleasant.
How Long Does Wine Typically Last? When stored properly and kept unopened, white wines can often outlive their recommended drinking window by 1-2 years, red wines by 2-3 years, and cooking wines by 3-5 years. Fine wine — as you may have guessed — can typically be consumed for decades.
Drinking expired alcohol won't necessarily make you sick but it will lead to weak or oddly flavored drinks. There are some instances, like with liqueurs, where bacteria or mold may grow in the bottle which can lead to an upset stomach. Spoiled liquor may develop a vinegary smell and sour flavor.
Like liquor and beer, wine is produced through a fermentation process. Many fine wines are aged in barrels for months or even years to add complexity and intensity to the flavors. If stored properly, a bottle of fine wine can last up to 20 years. You should drink less expensive wines within two years after bottling.
We've even enjoyed our Zinfandel after it's reached 20 years old. Our Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon peak around 10 years and will continue to develop for another 20 to 30 years, if you can control the urge to enjoy them now. While the bright fruit flavors recede, the tannins soften and become silky and velvety.
Wine is more likely to cause diarrhea in some people. This may be due to a sensitivity or allergy to tannins. Tannins are compounds found in the skin of grapes, and a reaction may lead to headaches, nausea, and diarrhea.
However, the real star of the vintage was Italy with both Piedmont and Tuscany producing some excellent wines. Piedmont, in particular, has been described as enjoying a perfect growing season and many of the wines are likely to still be drinking well now but expect high prices.
There are a few markers that will indicate that your wine is bad. An overly sweet red wine (that isn't Port or a dessert wine) or the aforementioned fizziness in a non-sparkling wine can tell you that something's off. Additionally, a sharp taste akin to vinegar is a sign that you should throw out the wine.
People are at a high risk of alcohol poisoning if they consume 12 or more units of alcohol, especially in a short space of time. This is equivalent to just under 6 medium glasses of wine, or around 7 bottles of 5% beer. The faster someone drinks, the higher the BAC becomes.
As such, feelings of nausea should stop within 24 hours. However, if a person still feels nauseated more than a day after drinking alcohol, it may signify the onset or progression of a medical condition, and they should speak with a doctor immediately. A doctor can help rule out an underlying cause.
An unopened 20 year old wine is perfectly safe to drink. Whether it is tasty and appealing to drink is an altogether different question. Few white wines improve during that length of time unless they were produced as sweet dessert wines and stored properly (i.e. under cool constant temperature away from light).
Only as long as its been unopened, still sealed , and stored correctly out of direct sunlight in cool dark cupboard or cellar for last 10 years , it may taste good and be safe to consume. Check for any expiry date or best before date just in case that will help know for sure .
To tell if the wine has gone bad without opening the bottle, you should notice if the cork is slightly pushed out. This is a sign that the wine has been exposed to too much heat, and it can cause the foil seal to bulge. You can also notice if the cork is discolored or smells like mold or if wine is dripping out.
Introduction: My name is Dr. Pierre Goyette, I am a enchanting, powerful, jolly, rich, graceful, colorful, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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