Different Characteristics of a Wine
A good-quality wine should have the following characteristics:
1. Faults in Wine
Efforts are taken by everyone who handles wine to preserve its aroma profile and taste. But some of the wines acquire faulty characteristics due to many reasons.
2. Excess sulfur
During the fermentation process, sulfur dioxide (SO2) is added to check the actions of wild yeast. It also acts as a preservative. However, it normally disappears when exposed to air, either by decanting the wine or swirling in the glass.
3. Oxidation
During the aging process, the air invades the wine through the very fine pores of the wood, and the alcohol interacts with the oxygen. The wines, both white and red, acquire the aroma of sherry. It may also go lifeless with a dull and flat smell.
4. Corked or Cork
Wine bottles are closed with a cork to retain the characteristics of the wine and preserve its quality and quantity. During storage, the wine bottles are stored horizontally to prevent the cork from drying out.
When stored horizontally, the cork comes in contact with the wine, smells, and does not allow the air to go in. The cork is contaminated with a strong moldy smell from a substance called trichloroanisole (TCA).
5. Vinegar
Wine turns vinegar when it is exposed to oxygen for a long duration and also by the activities of acetobacter bacteria, if unchecked, which act on alcohol and convert wine to vinegar.
6. Hydrogen Sulfide
This has a smell similar to that of a rotten egg. The wine takes on the smell of rotten eggs when the yeasts react with sulfur dioxide during the fermentation. This occurs mainly in red wine.
7. Formation of Crystals
Sometimes there may be the formation of potassium bitartrate crystals on the cork in the wine, which may spoil the appearance of the wine. It is commonly found in German wines.
8. Foreign Material and Sediments
Sometimes, wine may be contaminated by foreign material, such as splintered glass, due to faulty bottling equipment.
