How to identify the authenticity of dry red wine

Identifying the authenticity of dry red wine can be comprehensively judged by observing the wine label, checking the color of the wine, smelling the aroma, tasting the wine, and examining the sediment. Fake wine often has problems such as unclear label information, abnormal color, pungent aroma, thin taste, or abnormal sediment.

1. Observe the label.

The label of genuine dry red wine should be printed clearly, including complete production information such as production area, year, winery name, and alcohol content, and the edges of the font should be free of burrs. Fake wine labels often have spelling errors, incomplete information, or use vague imitation patterns, and some may even be loosely attached. Legitimate imported liquor also needs to have a Chinese back label, indicating the country of origin, importer, and shelf life.

2. Check the color of the wine

High quality dry red wine has a natural color, usually deep ruby red or purple red, with a slight orange hue on the edges. When shaking the glass, the wine hangs evenly. Fake wine may contain artificial colors, resulting in overly bright or dark colors, unnatural cup hanging, and possible layering or color fading after standing.

3. Smell the aroma

Authentic dry red wine has a rich and layered fruity or oak barrel aged aroma, such as blackcurrant, cherry or vanilla flavors, without pungent chemical odors. Fake liquor may emit abnormal smells such as excessive alcohol flavor, sweet and greasy essence or musty flavor, and some of them will produce rancidity due to blending of inferior raw materials.

4. Taste

A true dry red wine has a smooth entrance, delicate tannins, balanced acidity and sweetness, and a long-lasting aftertaste with complex flavors. Fake liquor is often characterized by a thin taste, strong alcohol burning sensation, or abrupt sweetness. Some fake liquors with added saccharin may have a distinct bitter aftertaste.

5. Checking Sediments

Aged dry red wine may have a small amount of natural tartaric acid crystals or pigment precipitates, evenly distributed and with small particles. The sediment of fake wine may be suspended impurities or flocculent substances, which become turbid and do not disperse after shaking. Some fake wine mixed with water will show obvious layering after standing still.

When purchasing dry red wine, it is recommended to choose a legitimate channel and pay attention to keeping the purchase voucher. After opening the bottle, a simple test can be conducted, such as dropping a small amount of alcohol on white paper to observe the diffusion of pigments, or adding baking soda water to observe the color change. Long term storage should be placed flat in the dark and kept at a temperature of 12-18 degrees Celsius. If any abnormalities are found in the alcohol or discomfort occurs after drinking, immediately stop drinking and contact the merchant or professional organization for identification.