There are really two types of occasions when you might wonder whether your wine is still okay to drink…

You’ve only drunk a part bottle…

Doesn’t often happen to us very often, but let’s say, you’ve drunk just one or two glasses from a bottle and decided to pop the cap back on. When you come back to it, is it still good to drink? Here’s how to tell…

• Use your eyes – Pour some into a glass, the following tell tale signs will often determine whether it’s better to pour your half drunk bottle down the sink… If the wine has turned cloudy or started to darken to a brown colour, or if a still wine has developed small bubbles.
• Use your nose – If it smells acidic like vinegar, you can say goodbye to the rest of the bottle.
• Use your taste buds – Don’t take a gulp, but with a small sip you’ll soon discover whether your wine is not fruity like it was last time, tastes like cardboard, is nutty or at worse tastes like vinegar.

You’ve discovered a special bottle of wine that was gifted to you.

These bottles invariably lurk at the back of cupboards or in the garage, having been stored for a special occasion. If you stumble upon one by accident, make that the day for your special occasion!

You can use the same sensory processes above to determine whether your wine is a cause to celebrate.