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Wine ...! Help

(18 Posts)
Grannyknot Sat 05-Jul-14 09:20:07

I wonder whether anyone who knows more about wine than I do can help with this question: We've had cases of wine (red and white) and prosecco in our garage since my son's wedding in September last year, deliberately not returned because we knew my daughter was getting married this year.

The cases have been stored in our garage - so they were there over the winter and it gets damn cold in there. The other day when it was so humid, I was in there and it was like a sauna. So I'm worried that the wine will not be any good. Husband says it will be fine. End of discussion.

I can't "test" a bottle as the cases are sealed, and the alcohol for the wedding is "his department". (We're not big drinkers, in fact husband doesn't drink at all since a heart attack some years ago, and I really only like a bit of sherry).

I don't want to discover at the wedding in the middle of nowhere in Devon that the wine is ruined by the temperatures in the garage. Any thoughts? Or should I cross my fingers and stop worrying about it?

sunseeker Sat 05-Jul-14 09:32:48

I think I would open the cases and test a bottle of each (perhaps a wine loving friend could do that for you)!

I'm nowhere near being an expert but I think some wines are susceptible to temperature changes

Agus Sat 05-Jul-14 09:37:39

I would ask whoever supplied your wine.

Pittcity Sat 05-Jul-14 10:10:42

DH, who considers himself a amateur wine "expert" says that wine really needs a constant cool temperature. We have so many thermometers in our spare room where he brews and stores his that I have given up counting.
He says he personally would not risk them at a wedding without trying them first as they could be fine or not!!

Why not invite some friends over and ask them to test for you? Shouldn't think opening the case would make any difference unless you can still return them...

glammanana Sat 05-Jul-14 10:16:23

Same response from my DH he says the wine needs to be stored in cool area and would probably not use it for a celebration such as a wedding.

FlicketyB Sat 05-Jul-14 10:18:49

I assume that the wine bottles are being stored on their sides. If they are standing upright they will be undrinkable.

An aunt of DH's was sent a dozen half bottles of wine, I know not why as she didn't drink wine. After her death DH and I took them home and one evening opened and emptied all 12 - and remained stone cold sober. The wine was undrinkable because the corks had dried out and oxygen had been able to get into the bottles and they all tasted disgusting.

Pittcity Sat 05-Jul-14 10:32:19

Why not have a local GN meetup to test?

janerowena Sat 05-Jul-14 12:10:32

I wouldn't risk it without trying it first. Certainly not with the prosecco. Wines with screw tops will probably be ok, but it depends a lot on the wine, some wines are made to be drunk fairly soon and don't improve with keeping at all.

Grannyknot Sat 05-Jul-14 12:32:40

Urgh. The collective wisdom confirms my suspicions... Okay, will insist on a test.

Thanks!

Grannyknot Sat 05-Jul-14 12:34:25

Pitt grin

harrigran Sat 05-Jul-14 12:58:24

Wine does spoil at extremes of temperature and to keep it any length of time it has to be quality wine for laying down in a cellar. I am surprised the Prosecco hasn't popped it's cork.
I once was shot in the back by a bottle of Eau de Vie, it was in a rack and fermentation caused gas to build up grin

glassortwo Sat 05-Jul-14 13:10:43

grannyknot I think a Gnet testing party is on the cards
grin

Pittcity Sat 05-Jul-14 14:19:56

We'll bring cupcake

Grannyknot Sat 05-Jul-14 17:01:55

wine and cupcake shock smile

Grannyknot Sat 05-Jul-14 17:04:04

B*gger it, and what a waste of money confused if the wine is spoilt. We are so ignorant.

Maybe by some miracle it is okay, but I'm planning a raid and a testing session with the bride-to-be tomorrow when himself is out at golf, to check.

Eleanorre Sat 05-Jul-14 21:11:33

We kept prosecco from sons wedding and it was undrinkable sorry .

rosequartz Sat 05-Jul-14 21:49:31

Not sure, some champagnes would be OK, but not sure about the prosecco. It should say on the labels 'best drunk within 6 months' or tell you if you are able to keep it.

We recently drank a champagne that had been in the garage for 7 years and it was lovely.

We keep wine in the garage on its side in a rack and it has been fine after a year. In fact, we had one bottle of home-made elderberry wine that had been there for about 15 years - dh and friend drank it, said it was like sherry. I did decline, apart from a sip which tasted OK!
On the other hand, a bottle of margot which a friend kept for years in his house tasted 'mousy'.

You need a wine-loving friend to come and test a bottle from each case - volunteers?

rosequartz Sat 05-Jul-14 21:53:20

It says on a prosecco website that it should be drunk within a year of vintage, so if it was 2013 prosecco it should be OK. I would still try it even if it is 2012.