I have a bottle of Sancerre that looks like it has gone off. I haven't opened it yet. If it has gone off, is there any way I can use it e.g. for cooking? making white wine vinegar? Let me know if you have any suggestions,
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
I would first like to know why you think the wine has "gone off." Is this an older vintage or a bottle which has not been stored well? As a rule, Sancerre is a white wine to drink young, except for the very top examples; for the latter, proper storage is still important. Does the color of the wine seem to be considerably darker than it should when you hold the bottle up to a bright light? It is often difficult to judge color through dark green glass, which I assume is the color of this bottle of Sancerre. If it is truly abnormally dark, your assumption that the wine has tired and is no longer appealing to drink is likely to be correct. In such cases, there is always one sure way to find out: just open the bottle! Pour the wine down the drain if it's brownish in color. The replacement cost is around $20 - $25 for a bottle of the latest vintage on the market.
