Hello, I recently received several bottles of 1982 Calif white wine however the corks crumbled upon opening and the wine is a light amber colour. Is It ok to consume? I don't know how it had been stored these past 33 years. Thank you. Cindi
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
In truth, there are very few dry white wines which can stand up to aging of more than 30 years. Even that small minority would require ideal storage conditions and intact corks. Some sweet whites with a high concentration of sugar and acidity can indeed mature and improve for decades. You don't mention the type of wine, but I am assuming it is not a dessert-style wine. In any event, since the corks are breaking down and allowing air the enter the bottle, the wines you have are liable to deteriorate rapidly. White wines take on a darker color as they age in bottle, but if they become amber, that signifies the wine has in all likelihood entered a final stage of life. Are your bottles OK to consume? Certainly, there are no health-related concerns posed by the wine, and you may in fact actually like the taste. Of course, it will not resemble a young wine and may have flavors of nuts and butterscotch - but that could possibly be enjoyable. Whatever you think, it does not make any sense to keep the bottles any longer.
