5 Things to Do With Bad Wine

By Sayward Rebhal, Networx

Old wine, old wine. Hmm . . . well, it’s not a problem I often come across, to be perfectly honest. We’re pretty fond of spiky beverages, ‘round these parts. (Some of our neighbors here in Portland even send their plumbers home with a bottle of wine.)

But okay, I suppose it happens every now and again. A lonely bottle of Chardonnay gets pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten. Or a post-party Merlot gets left open, left out, for far too long to consider salvageable. These things happen to even the most dedicated of drinkers.

Then of course, there’s just the tragic occasion when a bottle, brand new and freshly poured, simply . . . stinks. Much like electrical work, winemaking is an exact science. Sometimes things just don’t come together.

Ah well. All’s not lost, my friends. As long as your wine isn’t growing fur or smelling like something long since dead, you still have options. Here are a few ideas:

1. Cook with It.

Contrary to popular belief (sorry Julia Child), it’s actually okay to cook with less-than-stellar wine. Blind taste tests have shown that as long as you’re boiling, braising, or otherwise reducing the liquid, the quality of the wine isn’t so important. So add it to a slow-simmered stew or a from-scratch pasta sauce. Try an on-it’s-way-to-vinegar white for cooking down onions or mushrooms. Don’t worry – no one will be any the wiser.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lynn C.

10:17PM PDT on Oct 23, 2012

Like the idea of wine as a kick-starter for the compost heap - but it may be a long wait. Can't think of one instance where a bottle of wine went bad in this house!

October 23
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Sam E M.

3:41AM PDT on Oct 23, 2012

Think I'll pass on bathing in it, can't believe it doesn't leave at least traces on the skin detectable by a sensitive nose. Don't want to be known as the wino down the street.
Can just imagine the worms in the compost having a right old time wriggling around tipsy. :)

Elena T.

1:47AM PDT on Oct 21, 2012

Thank you for sharing :)

October 21
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Donna H.

7:17AM PDT on Aug 31, 2012

Thanks.

August 31
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Dale O.

8:22AM PDT on Jul 31, 2012

Several fabulous uses for old wine, not that I buy much and usually use a lot of it in cooking anyway, even in the sauce for meatballs.

Have never heard of it used for bathing, that is certainly something new, interesting. Not sure if I will ever try it but certainly interesting!

July 31
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Jane R.

11:58AM PDT on Jun 3, 2012

I like the idea of using it as a dye. It could even be used to dye Easter Eggs. I don't think I'd want to bathe in it (At least not in a red wine). I wonder if you'd smell like a drunk after the bath?