Good To Know: Signs your bottle of wine has gone bad :(

If you are anything like me, then you've left an undraken bottle of wine or two left open! We call those bottles MAVERICKS in our house. Anyhoo, here are some tips for you the next time you want to dump a bottle of wine down the drain...

• The smell is off. If a wine's aroma is moldy or resembles a musty basement, wet cardboard, or vinegar, it's turned. A heavy raisin smell is another bad signal.
• Avoid red wines that are not Port, but have the aroma typically characteristic of Port. When wine tastes like dessert wine, it has been overexposed to heat, and is therefore undrinkable.
• When the cork is pushed out slightly from the bottle, it's a sign the wine has overheated and expanded within the bottle.
• Examine the color. A brown hue in red wine demonstrates that the liquid is past its prime. White wines that have darkened to a deep yellow or brownish straw color are usually oxidized.
• Wine that lacks fruit, is raspy, too astringent, or has a paint-thinner taste is usually bad.
• A still wine that is fizzy or effervescent has undergone a second fermentation after the bottling and shouldn't be enjoyed.
• Although the term "corked" commonly refers to wine that has gone bad, inspecting the cork alone will not determine if the wine is tainted. Be sure to smell and examine the actual liquid.