Here’s the good news: drinking old opened wine won’t give you food poisoning or turn you into a zombie. The alcohol and acidity act as natural preservatives, so harmful bacteria rarely survive. But the bad news? It will taste like someone bottled regret and named it “sour socks.”
After a few days, oxygen starts a slow-motion war against the wine’s flavor compounds. The result is a flat, oxidized mess that smells like vinegar, wet cardboard, or even nail polish remover. (Trust me, I’ve sniffed all three.)
