How do I know if a wine is good or bad?

By The weekly winer 13 October 2007 02:48:00

Someone once asked me, "How do you know if a wine is good or bad?" well, geeeez...how do I answer such a question? But first, let's get the technical stuff out the way. One common problem I've experienced since relocating to Thailand is that some of us tend to NOT store their wines in proper temperature. Especially in such a country that is known for having year-round scorching weather, it's quite easy to have your wine go bad. The easiest way to check is to simply hold up the "wine in question" into the light and look "through" the bottle. If your view through the bottle is blocked by a cloudy content or if the wine isn't clear enough to easily see through the other side, then chances are, the wine has in fact, gone bad. The sure-fire way to keep your expensive wine from becoming putrid is to store them in proper room temperature. If you're not sure if your storage room is in fact proper temperature, then it's ok to store them in the refrigerator...and yes, even the reds.

Now, with the technicalities aside, let's talk "good or bad" as far as taste. Ok, in my opinion, you don't have to be an expert wine connoisseur to determine the taste. I mean ok, having a little knowledge to distinguish each wine's characteristics sure helps, but overall, who is to say if a particular wine actually taste good or bad? The great thing about enjoying wine, or anything else for that matter, is how it appeals to you. Just remember, it doesn't matter if a wine is expensive or cheap, old or new, from France, Italy, or even Thailand, the only real way to tell if a wine taste good or bad, is to try it out for yourself. When it comes to wine, there's no right or wrong about it, if you appreciate it or enjoy it, then it's all good.

Add your comment