Sometimes when you open a bottle of still wine, you might find it to be unexpectedly sparkling. I’ve ran into this mainly with white wines which are light and fruity (i.e. Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, Vinho Verde etc) and primarily with screw-cap sealed bottles. This is due to a winemaker sometimes adding a little CO2 to keep them crisp and refreshing. In white wines this is often referred to as “petillance”.
How to tell if your wine is affected The wine has a very lightly sparking appearance and there may also be an unpleasant smell.
Your course of action If the wine is white, don’t worry about it. If it’s red, it’s a problem. Bubbles may be a sign that the wine has unintentionally began a secondary fermentation in the bottle, and is most definitely a fault. Send it back.
Click here for the rest of my —-> A Guide to Wine Faults posts.
So starting from the top, name? Mike Calhoun with Landmark Vineyards How many wines are Landmark Vineyards making right now? We make only 3 different varietals, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, and with those grapes we are making 8-9 wines. Day to day, what is your involvement in the winery? I am the General Manager, the ubiquitous General Manager! The guy who just makes sure everyone is clicking on all cylinders, and if that’s…
