Warning signs

Appears in
Le Cordon Bleu Matching Wine with Food
Le Cordon Bleu Matching Wine with Food

By Le Cordon Bleu

Published 2010

  • About
A visible indication of damage to your wine often means that the damage is too far gone to be reversed. If you notice any of the following signs of trouble in your collection, take immediate action to salvage unaffected bottles and make adjustments to your cellar conditions:
  • See page around the wine capsule or increased air space between the cork and the wine - known as ullage - means that your wine has begun to evaporate and may be at risk from oxidization. This could be caused by an excessively high temperature in your cellar. It could also be an indication of low humidity, especially if the cork appears to have dried out.
  • Protruding corks may be a sign that the wine has frozen, forcing the cork out of the bottle. If the temperature surrounding your wine collection does drop too low, raising it very gradually may prevent further damage.
  • Mouldy labels are a sign of high humidity. The wine itself will not be affected, but if the problem is left unchecked, the mould might spread and render the labels illegible, which will affect re-sale value.
  • Discoloured, brown wine may indicate that a wine has been exposed to sunlight or a strong electric light. Discolouration indicates oxidization and the flavour of the wine will be ruined. White wines in clear glass bottles are particularly sensitive. To avoid this, see for ways to block out light.