First, let’s talk about most wine. Nearly 90% of all wine is made to be drunk within a year or two. It’s not a fine Bordeaux; it’s a party in a bottle.
That cheap red from the grocery store? It’s not aging gracefully. It’s aging into vinegar. Don’t expect a miracle from a $10 bottle you bought for a barbecue.
But here’s the quirky truth: wine doesn’t expire like milk. It won’t make you sick. It just might taste like a wet sock.
The “Smell Test” Is Your Superpower
Pour a tiny splash. Swirl it like a mad scientist. Now, stick your nose in the glass.
If it smells like wet cardboard, old mushrooms, or a barnyard, it’s corked. That’s a hard pass. Dump it.
But if it smells like sherry, nuts, or just “old”? You might be in for a treat. Some wines love being ancient.
