How does red wine spoil?

If you've ever discovered a bottle of red wine that's been being in your cooking area for a few months (or years) and taken a smell, you know that red wine can spoil. While wine does not technically spoil the method other food does, direct exposure to oxygen, heat, and sunshine can cause it to degrade, giving it an unpleasant taste.

How does white wine ruin?  https://9tolife.co.uk/?p=706 Gradually, the compounds in white wine that give it its signature taste and scent break down, and the red wine starts to taste vinegar-y and flat. This procedure is accelerated by heat and light, so it is necessary to store wine in a cool, dark location.

Interestingly, white wine really gets much better with age, as much as a point.  https://guayhk.com/?p=721 As wine ages, the tannins (compounds that give it a bitter taste) begin to break down and the red wine becomes smoother and more intricate.  https://scarabnet.org/?p=320 This is why numerous red wines enhance with age and why most white red wines are best taken in young.

When a red wine starts to spoil, there's no going back. Once those tannins have broken down, they're gone for excellent. If you come throughout an old bottle of wine that's starting to turn, it's best to simply pour it down the drain.