Aside from spotting hair in food, there is, perhaps, no greater disappointment in a fine dining experience than ordering an expensive bottle of wine, only to find that it tastes funny.
But don’t be alarmed. Corked wine is a natural, yet annoying phenomenon. And since an estimated 1% to 7% of bottles are corked, chances are likely that you’ll come across one at some point in your lifetime.
What is corked wine?
“A corked wine is caused by a compound called trichloroanisole, or TCA, which contaminates the cork, bottle, or wine itself during harvest, production or even shipping,” said Vinnie Miliano, bar manager for the famed Waldorf Astoria Chicago.
TCA often exists as fungi in corks, but can also present itself in pesticides, preservatives, and cleaning products found in wineries. Barrels and cardboard boxes can also be sources of “contamination,” even if high quality control standards have been rigorously implemented.
“A corked wine isn’t harmful to consume, but it certainly isn’t pleasant to drink and will definitely detract from the experience,” added Miliano.
Despite the temporary awkwardness and disruption of dinner service, it’s A-OK to send something back that doesn’t taste up to par. After all, if you’re shelling out hard-earned cash to treat yourself and a loved one, you don’t want the evening to go, well, sour.
We asked Miliano, as well as Courtney Cheney, the beverage operations manager for Ocean Prime, to explain how to tell if a wine is corked and the proper protocol of flagging the issue with a sommelier or server. (For more wine tips, read a sommelier’s best tips for finding budget bottles and see how to properly store every type of open wine.)
How to tell if a wine is corked
Corked wine may smell like musty like wet cardboard or a damp basement.
There are typically two immediate indicators to detect if a wine has been corked: aroma and taste. “A corked wine will typically smell off, with scents of wet cardboard, mustiness, or like a damp basement,” said Miliano. “If you taste it, you’ll notice the taste can be muted or unpleasant, lacking the expected fruit and structure.”
Cheney echoes these exact descriptions, adding that a corked wine will also taste “flat with a distinct astringency in severe cases that will also lack fruitiness.”
And while one may believe that some tannin-heavy varietals are more prone to corking than others, TCA does not discriminate. “It is easier, however, to recognize cork taint in wines that are unoaked, due to more powerful aromatics that accompany oak aging,” said Cheney. “It’s [also] more likely to occur in wines with traditional corks.”
Read more: We Asked a Wine Pro if Open Red Wine Lasts Longer in the Fridge
How to send back corked wine
Should you stumble across a corked bottle, a trained wine professional or bar manager will likely remedy the unfortunate circumstance. “The best approach is the simplest,” said Miliano. “Politely inform your server or sommelier. There will be no offense taken and most hospitality professionals are trained to handle the situation gracefully.”
This may include tasting the wine themselves before replacing the bottle or glass. If you’re not entirely sure, you can also rely on their expert palates for an explanation and/or final confirmation.
“I once had an entire case of wonderful Rioja completely corked,” said Miliano, who also says that there is no need to “feel embarrassed or angry” in the moment. Quality verification is merely part of the process and an important step to determine if additional inventory is affected.
“You can also check the cork, which should be presented to you upon your server opening the bottle,” added Cheney. “If it smells musty and dank, it is likely corked.” Of course, if there is any type of pushback, escalate it higher to restaurant managers or owners after your meal. This can be done via email to avoid confrontation.
Read more: 7 Surprising Recipes You Can Add Wine To
Nothing to wine about
Any restaurant worth its salt will replace a corked bottle with a good one free of charge.
Cheney wrapped up the concept of wine corking best: “Cork taint is a naturally occurring fault in wines, so most restaurants will replace the bottle without further question or charge.”
While an offensive sip may be unlucky, remember that it’s probably the worst thing that will happen to you that day. Accept it, say something about it, and move on. It’s nobody’s fault (not even the winemaker’s) and you more than deserve a stress-free, delicious meal that’s worth every dollar you spend.
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