Corked Wine

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Written by:

Joe Becerra

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corked wine cork taint
5% of corks can cause Corked Wine

What is Corked Wine?

The term Corked Wine describes a bottle of wine that has gone bad. Another name is Cork Taint. Sad to say, but every so often, you are going to get a bottle of wine that is spoiled. The aroma of corked wine is the tip-off. Cork Taint has the distinctive smell of wet cardboard. It can be very faint to intense, depending on the level of the chemical compounds. It will not harm you; it just means the wine is not going to taste as it should. 

What is the cause of Corked Wine?

The cause of tainted wine is usually a defective cork. The cork is bad from the start and will turn the wine. About 5% of wine bottles will have a defective cork causing Corked Wine. In some instances, the winery may be responsible for tainted wine. The combination of certain chemicals used in a winery may combine with bacteria to produce an off odor in the wine.

You can also spoil an unopened bottle of wine by aging and storing the wine improperly. A high temperature is usually the culprit in this case. Here is an additional resource on Corked Wine.

Once you open a bottle of wine, it will only last a couple of days, even under the best of conditions. Need a good corkscrew?

If you have a bottle of “Corked” wine

Put the cork back in the bottle, and if convenient, return it to where you purchased it. They will refund your money, at least most wine dealers will do this. If you buy wine online, demand a refund. You can always find another online wine retailer if they refuse a refund or credit.

If you are at a restaurant and the wine you ordered is corked, you will need to tell the waiter immediately. If you are not sure, ask the waiter to smell it or to take a taste.

What a winemaker think of corks vs screwtops

  • Joe Becerra

    Joe Becerra has been traveling to wine country and enjoying wine since 1965. He is a retired educator, and now have the time the opportunity to share his wine travel experiences through this Website.

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