News Chemistry Wine Tasting: Instrument can sniff out vinegar in sealed wine By Jessica Gorman September 4, 2002 at 11:27 am - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print It’s an unpleasant surprise when newly opened wine tastes like vinegar. It’s particularly distasteful if you spent thousands of dollars on it. WINE AWAITS. A wine bottle ready for NMR analysis. Augustine Now, chemist Matthew Augustine of the University of California, Davis claims he can tell buyers or sellers of wine when a bottle’s gone to vinegar.