How to "Fix" a Bad Bottle of Wine

If you're buying wine on a budget, the chances increase that you might end up with a bad bottle. The extent of it's "bad-ness" is variable of course, and you might be able to drink it anyway. If it smells of rotten eggs, (or rotten anything for that matter) it's best to dump it down the drain, no questions asked. But if it's a matter of the wine being too old, too young, or has a funky flavor that is not agreeable to your palate, you might be able to "fix" it so that it becomes at least drinkable. Okay, let's get started.

Aerator
First of all, as a purveyor of cheap wine, you should immediately invest in a Vinturi Wine Aerator. (No, they don't pay me to rave about their product... I wish) I recommend the "red wine" version. I use it for reds and whites and it's fine. What the aerator does is expose the wine to air which can reduce any funky flavors and "mellow out" any overpowering flavors. If you do not have an aerator on hand, pour the wine quickly between two glasses for five to ten minutes, or pour it into a shallow dish and let it sit for an hour or so, stirring occasionally. That will also expose the wine to some air.


Change it up with Food
As most wine-drinkers know, food can dramatically alter the taste of a wine. So if the wine you opened is past it's prime and has some port-y notes or even meaty flavors, try eating a bite or two of chocolate (I mean plain milk or dark chocolate here, not a Baby Ruth.) If that helps, take a nibble of chocolate every few sips to keep those gnarly flavors in check.

If your wine is too young, too green or too tart, try a squeeze of lemon juice. Just a couple drops right on your tongue should do. Or you can try a green apple. Italian dressing (oil and vinegar) on a small salad will also help.

If your wine has some really funky flavors that are not mentioned above, try to eat something in the same flavor category as the funkiness. If it tastes like chicken, eat some chicken. If it tastes like brie, eat some stinky cheese. If it tastes like rotten eggs (trick question) down the drain it goes. The point is, if you already have the flavor in your mouth, you won't taste it in the wine as much.

Mix it up
You can try this method... but it's risky. It only works about 50% of the time and more so with white wine. If you have a decent bottle of wine, mix a splash or two into a glass of the offending wine. Reislings, Gewurtraminers and Moscatos are good ones to mix into crisper whites like Pinot Grigios and Sauvignon Blancs.

If you're stuck with a funky bottle of red, try mixing it half and half with grape juice. No, I'm not kidding. I have done this before, not only to fix a bad red, but also to dilute red wine for white-wine drinkers. It is actually really tasty.

Add your tips!
While these tips will not save every bad bottle of wine out there, it might help save a couple. What are your tips for improving a funky bottle? Add them below! I will add them to this article.