We’ve all forgotten about an open bottle of wine in the fridge door. It might seem unsalvageable, but don’t dump it down the sink just yet! Try out these useful tricks the next time an open bottle of vino is past its prime.
You pop open a bottle of wine, and it’s like a party in your glass—vibrant, lively, full of promise. But leave that bottle in the fridge or on the counter for a day or two, and the magic starts to fade. What was once fresh and exciting now tastes flat, maybe even a little sour.
The culprit? Air. Once wine is exposed, it starts to lose its sparkle, even with tools like a Coravin or a wine pump trying to slow the inevitable. Eventually, every wine lover faces the sad reality of a bottle that’s still drinkable but far from delightful.
But don’t despair—there are plenty of clever ways to put that leftover wine to good use.
Avoid bad wine in the first place – here’s our guide on proper wine storage.
Sometimes, the trouble starts long before you even pull the cork.
One of the most common issues is cork taint, a nasty little flaw that makes your wine smell like wet cardboard, old newspaper, or a soggy dog. This unfortunate funk is caused by a chemical contaminant, usually from the barrels or bottling lines. The only solution? Take that bottle back.
Then there’s the unfixable funk of microbial or bacterial infection, often found in natural wines. If your glass smells like a hamster’s cage or a hay bale, you’ve got a problem. While some ‘barnyard’ notes can be charming, if this bottle suddenly gives off an unpleasant stench, it’s time to move on.
“Hold on,” you might wonder. “How do I know if it’s a flaw or just a wine I don’t like?” The answer is simple: practice! Hit up wine tastings, pair wines with different foods, and share bottles with friends while comparing notes. The more you sip and discuss, the easier it’ll be to spot the difference.
Thankfully, not all flaws mean the end of the road. If your wine tastes cooked or oxidized, there’s still hope! Since these flaws won’t make you sick, your wine can be repurposed in other ways (more on that in a moment).
When a wine is considered ‘cooked’, it means it’s been exposed to too much heat—maybe left in a hot car or stashed away in a sweltering attic. The result? That once-fresh wine has transformed into a reductive, muted version of its former self. Another enemy that robs wine of its vibrancy is oxidization, or air exposure. When exposed to air for too long, your wine can lose not only its enticing aromas but also its bright color, turning into a dull shadow of its former self.
Once you determine what’s wrong with your wine, you can repurpose it in one of these clever ways:
1. Just Drink it
For those bottles that have lost a bit of their original charm, don’t pour them down the drain just yet. Revive your wine by turning it into sangria or mulled wine—perfect vehicles for bold flavors like fresh fruit and warming spices. It’s an easy way to transform a so-so bottle into something worth savoring.
Check out this summer-y sangria or a cozy mulled wine to get started!
2. Cook With ‘Bad’ Wine
Chefs always say to cook with wine you’d want to drink. But what about that bottle you were excited to drink that’s now taken a turn? Don’t toss it just yet—you can still put it to good use in the kitchen. Here are some useful ways to cook with ‘bad’ wine:
3. Make a Fruit Fly Trap
Got a bottle of wine that’s gone completely off? Don’t dump it—turn it into a fruit fly trap instead. Pour the wine into a jar, add a bit of dish soap, and give it a good shake to create bubbles. Cover the jar with plastic wrap, poke a few small holes, and set it out on the counter. The flies won’t be able to resist the vinegary lure, but once they’re in, there’s no way out.
4. Get Crafty
If you’ve ever had a red wine mishap, you know those stains can be stubborn. But instead of cursing your clumsiness, why not turn it into a DIY project? Harness that red wine’s robust pigment to transform old or unwanted fabrics into stylish, one-of-a-kind pieces.
Start by simmering your bad red wine on the stove—just enough to get it bubbling gently. Pre-wet your fabrics (think hand towels, clothes, napkins, or sheets) with water, then immerse them in the wine bath. Let the concoction reach a rolling boil before removing it from the heat. Depending on the shade you’re after, let your fabrics steep in this vintage potion for anywhere between four hours and a full day. Afterward, wring out the excess liquid and let your newly tinted textiles air dry. Voila—your bad wine has just become a statement piece!
Though it’s disappointing, it’s not necessarily the end of the road for a bottle of bad wine. Have you tried any of these remedies? Let us know in the comments below!
And if you’re looking for opportunities to taste wine with sommeliers in beautiful vineyards, check out our private wine tours! Private, professional, and picturesque, our expert-led vineyard tours offer unparalleled wine experiences in the New York wine region.
