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What Is Corked Wine?

2008_05_08-CorkedWine.jpgIn last week's Weeknight Meal Tip: What Do You Do With Bad Wine? post, a lot of readers mentioned corked wine in the comments section, and we thought we'd explain what the term "corked wine" means, in case some of you aren't sure.

Corked wine is a term among oenophiles that refers to tainted, or spoiled wine. Some people may think the term means "a bottle of wine that has a cork in it," but this is not the case. A bottle of wine that is unopened and gives off smells resembling a moldy newspaper or a wet dog along with a sour or rancid taste upon opening is considered a "corked wine." Corked wine also has a muddy, rusty color.

Most often, corked wine results from a bad cork, though it can also come from something happening during the aging or bottling process, or even during the storage of the bottle. Corks can get tainted by pesticides, airborne fungi, or bacteria while they are still on the tree. Corks also get contaminated with a chemical called TCA (2,4,6-Trichloroanisole). TCA is also detected in the wood of wine barrels and in the hoses, valves, funnels, and other objects involved in winemaking. TCA is harmless to humans, but it interferes with the odor and taste of wine to the point where it is unpleasant.

If your wine is corked, you should return it to the store or refuse it at the restaurant.

(Image: Kathryn Hill)

Comments (2)

There are several different reasons that wine can smell bad or off and only one of them would result in what is called "corked" wine. When TCA is present the wine will smell and taste exactly like it sounds, like cork.

However, there are other bacteria that can be present in wine that may or may not be a bad thing (according to your taste and what the winemaker was after.)

Brettanomyces is what causes the moldy newspaper and wet dog smell (or as some put it barnyard or wet hay), but in smaller amounts this is not always a bad thing. Some people like it and it is very common for certain French wines to be "bretty." I've known people who will go searching for these types of wines since it is felt in some circles that brett adds complexity.

Then there is wine that has been heat damaged. Heat damaged wine will prematurely age, will be oxidized and taste "cooked" (a taste similar to sherry, but not desirable in other wines.)

If you've ever had a wine that smells of acetone, sharpie, or vinegar, you are smelling high volatile acidity. This may "blow off" (go away after airing the wine) or it may not. A high VA will also cause a wine to taste sweet even though it is dry.

I just wanted to clarify, since from my knowledge "corked" is a very specific term only referring to TCA contamination. I worked in the wine industry for some time and this is what I was taught.

posted by charise on 2008-05-09 13:28:40
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I am going to sound crazy, but I've found I tend to like corked wines. I actually can't tell that a wine is corked. I will open a bottle and be really really enjoying it because it has a funky taste only to be told by another drinker that the wine is corked. Anyone else like chemically/funky wines? This used to be embarrassing but now my friends know to give me their corked wines....

posted by Tazer on 2008-05-10 11:29:28
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