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Can Drinking Old Wine Make You Sick?

It is said that wine can still taste OK 3-5 days after opening the bottle if kept refrigerated. But is it bad for your health? Can drinking old wine make you sick?

Well, you aren’t the only one asking this.

It’s one of the first questions that come from people who don’t really know the finer aspects of wine making, the storage of wine, and preservation. It is very often that people come across an opened bottle of wine that has not been consumed in some days and the natural question arises: is it safe to consume old wine?

The straight answer is yes, it is considerably safe to consume wine that has been unused. The first logic behind this answer is that wine is a preservative itself and some wines like port taste better as they age. However, there are a few pointers you can keep in mind to check before consuming old wine.

How to check if old wine is still OK to drink

It is really easy to check if the old wine you’ve been slow to finish is actually OK for drinking. Here is what you can do.

Firstly, check the smell of the wine. If an old wine has gone bad and is no longer fit for consumption, it will have a peculiar, funny smell to it. This rancid odor, akin to what you would expect to come off a wet cardboard, is easily detectable and if you do not smell any of the odd smells from your wine, you are good to go and the wine is really fine.

Another pointer to check before consuming old wine is to anylize the wine in a clear glass. An uncharacteristic coloring of the wine indicates that it has been exposed to too much air for too much time and as such, you should refrain from consuming it. In particular, red wine will turn more of a brownish color.

Additionally, check for bubbles in the wine. If the wine is not meant to be a bubbly wine, the presence of bubbles as you pour out the wine is a cause for concern and you should not consume that wine.

Consuming old wine does not necessarily make you sick. Oxidized wine might taste off and have too much of a sour character, but it shouldn’t actually make you sick unless it’s very old. Still, you’ll want to test your wine on these pointers before consuming old wine.

To prevent your wine from going off in the first place, it is best to store it in a proper wine refrigerator.

One Bottle of Red Wine a Day – Are You Drinking Too Much Wine Every Night?

After a long day at work or watching over a toddler, a bottle of wine will do the trick. You know the feeling—all you want to do is clear your head from the day’s worries while drinking from a bottle of red wine. However, have you ever wondered if you are drinking too much wine every day? And if so what are the effects of doing so? If you are that kind of person who averages one bottle of red wine a day, then keep reading.

Back in the old days, before the onset of sanitary water, beverages with alcohol content were the only way to go. They had numerous benefits such as preventing different types of infections and diseases. If you lived in the Roman Empire, it was pretty easy to drink a bottle’s worth of wine per day. But was it all healthy?

Researchers have found many health benefits to drinking red wine in moderation. The anti-oxidants are said to help prevent cancer, for example. But usually 2 glasses per day is the amount these studies are based on. By drinking in larger volumes are you compromising your health?

Everyone has different alcohol limits

Everyone knows that drinking in excess is bad for your health, but the exact amount that becomes too much can depend on many factors such as your weight, age, and genetic disposition for breaking down alcohol. Over one third of East Asians experience alcohol flush syndrome, which is an indication that their bodies can’t handle almost any amount of alcohol. If you experience similar effects, then one bottle of wine in a day is definitely too much, and even one glass may be pushing your luck.

For others, the World Health Organization has an online test you can take to see if you drink too much. The factors this test mostly considers is not the absolute amount that you drink, but rather the effect it has on your life and actions.

Is one bottle of wine too much?

For most people, consuming a full bottle of red wine on their own each night is going to be too much. Splitting a bottle with family and friends, or finishing off a bottle on your own on occasion isn’t necessarily so bad. But a whole bottle for yourself each and every day could be going overboard. Look carefully at how the rest of your life is being affected.

That being said, a moderate amount of red wine a day is not bad for you. Apart from preventing infections, red wine is famous for its antioxidants which are good for the heart. It prevents the formation of blood clots which are the number one cause of heart attacks and also helps in cholesterol reduction. Besides, it keeps you at lower risk of getting chronic diseases such as diabetes and even tuberculosis.

Just make sure you don’t go overboard since too much of something can be poison, and in this case, too much wine is not good for your liver and your health in general. Moreover, a dependence on alcohol can negatively affect your work and relationships.

If you live alone and still want to enjoy bottles of your favorite red or white wine, I recommend you get a good, small wine refrigerator with space for an opened bottle to be placed vertically. Then you can drink a couple glasses and re-cork the bottle to enjoy more the next evening. Most wines will do fine if refrigerated for 2-3 days after opening.

The key to enjoying wine—as in many things—is to practice moderation.

Does Wine Go Bad in the Fridge?

You know that an unopened wine bottle can be stored for years, but what about after you pop the cork? Does wine go bad in the fridge? Or can you just keep it there for a while until you have the urge to drink more?

Let’s take a look at the best wine storage practices, and answer whether wine storage in the fridge is actually a good way to go about it.

Don’t Let It Remain Open!

Wine coming in contact with too much air is bad news for the wine. Oxidation of the elements of the wine, drastically interfere with the chemical makeup of the wine and as a result, render it discolored, smelly and unfit for consumption. Oxidized wine will turn brown and sharply acidic after sufficient time.

Therefore, always re-cork a wine bottle when putting it in the fridge to finish later.

Is Refrigeration the Right Answer?

While refrigeration of opened wine is a nice idea, one has to be really careful in its handling. White wine and sparkling wine, like champagne, is often recommended to be chilled in a fridge. However, red wine can be chilled only after it has been opened. The ideal temperature to store any wine is between 40 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Opened wine once stored in the fridge is prevented from decaying rapidly, thereby successively preserving the taste and flavor of the wine for a few days. For this to work, the wine should be tightly corked in order to prevent more air from entering the bottle.

How Long is OK to Keep Wine in the Fridge?

So once placed in the fridge, how long can it be stored before the wine is unfit for consumption?

The answer depends on the type, but a good rule of thumb is three days. Once a bottle of wine has been opened, it is imperative that you consume it within the next three days.

It’s true that there are special inserts available that once fixed into the stopper, remove the air from the bottle to a large extent. These are great for making sure wine doesn’t go bad quickly during the first few days after opening, but it can’t return your wine to an un-corked condition, because oxygen has already been mixed in when you first popped the cork.

Therefore, it is just best for you and the wine that you use it up within a couple of days at the most. This way, you will be able to make the best of the freshness of the wine, without which, all flavor is lost to oxidation.

Bottom Line

The three day limit is the rule to live by for storing and consuming wine from the fridge. Moreover, opened wine should be safeguarded from light, strong smells and unnecessary movement, just like unopened wine is.

Drinking 2 Glasses of Red Wine a Day – Latest Health Research

Over-consumption of any alcohol can be dangerous to the body. Even with that warning, there is a still a bright side to drinking red wine. For some time, there has been a debate about the health benefits of wine to humans when taken moderately. While many people think that drinking two glasses of red wine a day is an important part of staying healthy, others think otherwise. Below is what researchers have found out about red wine.

Reduces heart disease risk

According to recent health studies, drinking small amounts of wine, one or two glasses in a day, may lower the risk of having heart diseases as well as stroke. This does not mean drinking high amounts of wine, as that may instead increase your risk.

Lower dementia risk

Researchers have found that moderate drinking of red wine can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia by 23%. However, this does not mean that non-drinkers should start drinking. For those who drink, moderate consumption is beneficial for their health.

Prevention of type 2 diabetes

Drinking two glasses of red wine has been found to have health benefits especially when it comes to the prevention of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is common in women. Red wine increases insulin sensitivity and thus lowers your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Lowers the risk of depression

The latest health research has revealed that red wine consumption in moderation can help to reduce the possibility of depression. A study conducted on the elderly and middle-aged people revealed that those who drank two glasses of wine in a day were less prone to depression.

Conclusion

It is now evident from the latest health research that moderate drinking of red wine has more health benefits. However, you could put your health at risk if you habitually drink wine or any alcohol in larger amounts.

Best Wines for New Wine Drinkers – Red and White Wines to Start Drinking

If you’ve never tasted wine before, don’t get discouraged if you dislike the first wine you taste. For whatever reason, the best wines for new wine drinkers aren’t always the ones they end up trying first. There are also other delicious wines out there beginners will love at first taste. Ultimately, the best red and white wines to start drinking will be a matter of opinion, but here are a few good options to consider.

Best Red Wines to Begin With

You will decide whether you want to start off with a red or white wine. But when it comes to any wine, you will want to start off with something simple. Merlot is a red wine that is usually classed as easy-to-drink and not too complex. Although depending on the winery and vintage, some Merlots can be quite developed.

Syrah is another variety that many go for if they enjoy strong flavors. You might have also heard of the Australian Shiraz—they are one and the same, just different spellings for this grape variety. But you will notice that the Australian Shiraz is a bit peppery while Syrah is fruity.

Pinot Noir is the another simple wine that’s easy to love. This is one that gets white wine drinkers to fall back to red wines. For Pinot Noir, why don’t you try the McMurray Ranch Pinot Noir?

But just like Pinot Noir, Beaujolais Nouveau will also make your Christmas merry as it releases in November every year. It is a fruity wine and light too for beginners. If you don’t want a wine with heavy tannins then this is just the wine for you.

White Wines You Should Start With

To start off your white wine drinking journey, why don’t you start with some Moscato d’Asti. This white wine from Italy is slightly frizzy and off-dry. The flavors of almonds and apricots are what makes this wine offer the best crispy, sweet, and juicy sip all the time.

But your wine journey is not complete until you have a taste of Riesling. Beginners prefer this wine because it ranges from dry to very sweet. Just like the Moscato d’Asti, you will also love the crisp citrus and minerals flavors.

Finally a Pinot Grigio white wine will be one of the friendliest wines as compared to other white wines on the market. They are crisp and light bodied too, in flavor and finish characteristics.

Best Red Wine for Beginners – Easiest Red Wine to Drink

Wine is one of the most popular beverages that has been around since the dawn of history. Red wine, in particular, is quite tasty and includes many health benefits when drunk in moderation. Those new to wine may be looking for the easiest red wine to drink. So for anyone out there who wants to experiment with red wine, here is a list of the best red wines that a beginner can start out with.

1. Cabernet Sauvignon

This red wine is recognized world-wide as one of the most popular red wines. This wine is made from the Cabernet Sauvignon red wine grape originally grown in France. It is now widely cultivated in other countries such as Chile and the US. It has medium level of acidity and is highly recommended for drinking with food. This fantastic wine has a dark red color and usually projects a flavor profile of red fruits. On top of that it is dry and has an acceptable level of tannin.

2. Merlot

This red wine ranks as the second most popular in America. You can drink Merlot alone or as an accompaniment with your food. This red wine is highly recommended for any beginner. Its alcohol content usually ranges from 13.5% to 14.5% depending on where it is grown. This wine often has plummy tastes and also has notes of chocolate. In addition to that, it is smooth and easy to drink.

3. Malbec

Malbec is another one of the most popular red wines. It is easy to drink and has tastes of juicy fruit flavors, such as cherry. In addition to that it can be drank alone or as an accompaniment with food. It has an alcohol content of 13-14.5%.

4. Syrah/Shiraz

Syrah (also spelled “Shiraz”) is one of best red wines in the market. It has the distinguishing characteristic of being darker than other types of red wine. It is regarded as a great accompaniment to food especially meat. This wine has a high level of tannin which also gives it antioxidants which are health benefiting.

These are a few of the best red wines for beginners.

Why You Shouldn’t Store Wine in a Regular Refrigerator

Is there anything wrong with storing wine in your refrigerator next to your milk, eggs, the rest of your food? This is one question most people will always ask, both new and experienced drinkers. So should you keep your wine in your regular refrigerator? The simple answer is no. Although it only sounds logical to have your bottles stored in a refrigerator, as you might with beer or coke, it is important to understand that a typical fridge at home doesn’t offer the optimum condition that are best for storing wine. Here is all you need to know.

What’s Wrong With a Regular Refrigerator for Storing Wine?

You need to understand that a fridge will maintain a chilly 35 to 38 F temperature. This is just a tiny bit above freezing, and is great for preserving most food without damaging it. But this is far too cool to store wine for any length of time.

What also makes it unsuitable is because it only maintains relatively low level of humidity, mostly in a range of 30%.

What are Ideal Wine Storage Conditions?

Your wine should always be stored under temperatures that range from 45 to 60 F, with 55 F said to be the most ideal for long-term storage and aging of wine. The ideal humidity to improve your wine is around 70 to 90%. This is much more humid than your regular fridge in the kitchen.

Other than just humidity, it is also advisable to always keep your wines free from excessive vibration. Understand that the cooling apparatus in your fridge consists of moving parts and runs around the clock. This normally causes constant micro vibrations and this will affect your wine. Tiny solid particles won’t be allowed to settle to the bottom. Instead, they will continue mixing freely with the liquid portion of wine and upset it’s delicate flavor balance.

Can You Ever Keep Wine in the Fridge?

There are really only 2 cases where you want to use a regular kitchen refrigerator for keeping your wine. First, you might want to put a bottle in the fridge for a brief period before serving. Mostly this will be the case when you have white wine stored at 55 F and you want to cool it down to a more ideal 45 F or so before serving. For this purpose, it’s fine to put the bottle in your fridge for about 1 hour before serving.

The second case is on those rare occasions when you’ve opened a bottle but aren’t able to finish it in one evening. When this happens, you should re-cork the bottle to minimize oxygen exposure and then store it in your fridge so that the cool temperature will help slow down the wine’s degradation. It is best to finish a bottle stored this way in 2-3 days.

When keeping an opened bottle in the fridge remember that it will cool down to below its ideal serving temperature. Red wines should then be taken out of the fridge an hour before serving on the second night, while white wines should be taken out 15-20 minutes before serving.

For long-term storage, and for keeping a number of red wine bottles at ready serving temperature, it is highly recommended to invest in a small to medium sized wine cooler fridge.

To help you find a good wine fridge, you can read all of our reviews HERE.

Compressor vs. Thermoelectric Wine Coolers

For wine to have a good taste it needs to be stored under stable conditions. This is because wine is made of different chemicals which continuously react with each other in order to give the wine a better taste. If the wine is not stored under the correct temperature there will be an unbalanced reaction of the chemicals and this may ruin the taste of the wine. There are various ways of storing wine. However, most people are increasingly turning to wine coolers as a means of storing wine. This is because the wine cooler creates a perfect temperature which improves the taste of the wine and also the aroma. There are two types of wine coolers based on the technology used: thermoelectric wine coolers and compressor wine coolers. They both preserve wine but using different methods. As they both have their advantages and disadvantages, a common question when comparing compressor vs thermoelectric wine coolers is “which is better?”

Thermoelectric Wine Coolers

Thermoelectric wine coolers preserve wine using a peltier plate. The plate has two sides. One is hot and the other is cold, resulting in a heat transfer. The plate works in such a way that it absorbs warm air from the wine cabinets and disperses it out into the surrounding air.

Advantages of a Thermoelectric Wine Cooler

1. It is Energy Efficient – A thermoelectric wine cooler uses a peltier plate which uses little amount of electricity. The fact that it also has less moving parts also makes it use less energy. This benefits the user as well as the environment.
2. Quiet Operation – The fact that it has less moving parts makes it generate little noise when it is operating. This is convenient especially if the user is irritated by noise.
3. Vibration Free – Thermoelectric wine coolers do not vibrate at all. This helps them create a favorable environment for wine, especially if one intends to store wine for long.

Read Thermoelectric Wine Cooler Reviews HERE

Disadvantages of Thermoelectric Wine Coolers

1. Weak Cooling Levels – The peltier plate has weak levels of cooling. The peltier plate is often only able to store and chill wine at temperatures ranging from 55-65 °F and it can’t cool wine down more than 20°F below the ambient room temperature. This makes it inappropriate to use in a room which has higher temperatures because it will be overwhelmed in terms of cooling the wine.
2. Expensive Operation – Although they use less energy, thermoelectric wine coolers need to be on all the time and thus they increase the cost of operation.
3. Small Capacity – They are only convenient to use with wine refrigerators that have small capacity. This makes it expensive to use if you have a large amount of bottles that you want to cool.

Compressor Wine Coolers

These use a vapor compression cycle to eliminate heat from the wine cabinet. It has four parts; compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator. The compressor pressurizes gas, while the condenser releases heat into the environment. The expansion valve reduces air pressure, while the evaporator absorbs heat from the air which cools the wine.

Advantages of Compressor Wine Coolers

1. Powerful Operation – It has a powerful cooling capacity when compared to thermoelectric wine coolers. This makes it convenient to use with many built-in units. Many large capacity units also make use of compressors.
2. Handles High Capacities – The fact that they have a powerful cooling system makes it possible for them to be used with a large number of wine bottles. This is of great benefit to people who have a large collection of wine.
3. Adapt to the Environment – The compressor wine cooler is able to adapt to changing temperatures of the environment, and is able to maintain a stable internal temperature. If one intends to store their wine in the basement or in a place which isn’t insulated, then the compressor wine cooler is the best option.

Read Compressor Wine Cooler Reviews HERE

Disadvantages of Compressor Wine Coolers

1. Small Vibrations – They have many moving parts and as a result they vibrate slightly. This necessitates one to use rubber brushing in order to absorb the movements.
2. Slight Noise Output – The moving parts of the compressor cooler result in the production of some noise. It usually produces the same noise as that of a normal refrigerator. If you live in a small studio apartment, this extra noise may be enough to make you favor a thermoelectric cooling model instead.

How Long Can You Store Wine After Opening a Bottle?

Wine drinkers world wide thoroughly enjoy their daily glass of wine, and not wasting a drop. But how long can a bottle of wine really last once it has been opened? There are so many different types of wine, that the question must be split up.

The types of wine that stay fresh for the least amount of time are usually sparkling wines, like champagne. Sparkling wines last an average of 2 days. This is if you have a sparkling wine stopper and have placed the bottle in a refrigerator.

White wines, such as Rosé or Moscato, will usually last an average of 6 days with a cork in it and placed in a refrigerator. A fuller bodied white wine, like Chardonnay or Riesling, will stay fresh for a shorter period of time, usually around 4 days with a cork in it and placed in a refrigerator as well.

Red wines, such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, have a similar expiration date to full bodied white wines, where they usually stay fresh up until about 4 days. The difference with red wine, is that it needs to be stored in dark yet cool place, and it must have a cork in it.

If you fancy a fortified wine, such as Sherry, your time of freshness is greatly extended, compared to other wines. You can make a fortified wine last around 28 days stored in a cool dark area with a cork in it.

Similar to fortified wines, bag-in-a-box wine can also last somewhere around 28 days. The difference in these two, is that the boxed wine needs to be stored in a refrigerator, as opposed to a cool dark place.

Wine doesn’t necessarily harm you when it has passed its expiration. It just won’t taste very good, and you’ll feel that you’ve wasted money on a fine bottle by letting it go bad before enjoying it.

What is the Best Red Wine to Drink?

New wine drinkers often feel overwhelmed by the sheer variety of wines available. There are many opinions on which is the best red wine to drink. Some swear by Cabernet Sauvignon, while others prefer Merlot, Zinfandel, or Sangiovese. Ultimately, you’ll have to try out different wines on your own to see which matches your tastes and personality the best. A popular red wine variety that you may want to put at the top of your list is Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir has gained in popularity over the past decade largely due to the effect of a positive portrayal in the hit film ‘Sideways’. It’s not all hype, though. Pinot’s good reputation is well-deserved.

If you are looking for one of the world’s finest wines, Pinot Noir is an excellent choice. Pinot Noir is made from the Pinot Noir grapes that are grown in some parts of France, Burgundy to be precise. These vines produce somewhat delicate grapes that, however, make excellent wine. Pinot Noir grapes are also cultivated in other countries such as New Zealand, Australia and the US (particularly California and Oregon).

Pinot Noir can come in different colors such as cherry red to purple red. Though usually it has a brighter red color when compared to other red wine varieties such as Merlot.

The structure of Pinot Noir is fresh and delicate, with soft tannins. Pinot Noir comes with fruity aromatics such as strawberry, cherry, and plum. Pinot Noir’s red skins have polyphenolic compounds like polyphenols and flavonoids. These bind free radicals in the body to prevent oxidized lipids from being generated.

Pinot Noir is rich in resveratrol that acts as an anti-oxidant in your body. Resveratrol prevents genetic mutation due to oxidative stress, thus protecting your body from cancer. Resveratrol also protects nerve cells from oxidative damage and prevents nerve cells from dying. Drinking a glass of Pinot Noir daily, therefore, benefits your nervous system and might help you live longer.

Resveratrol also helps the blood vessels to remain flexible and unclogged. It also decreases the chances of blood clots. This prevents you from developing coronary heart disease.

So as you can see, there are plenty of health benefits to drinking Pinot Noir in moderation. The bright, fruity flavor profile of Pinot Noir wines is also exceptional. Moreover, it pairs easily with many foods.

I’d encourage you to try many styles of wine, to be adventurous, and not always stick to the same variety. But definitely give Pinot Noir a try if you haven’t had the pleasure of tasting some yet. It’s one of the best red wines you can drink.