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 Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X 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.