There is sediment in my bottle of wine. What should I do?

The first thing you need to understand is that sediment in a wine bottle is a very normal thing, especially for wine bottles that are more that a couple years old.

Sediment is not a bad sign but in fact may indicate a superior wine. It's the natural separation of bitartrates, tannins, and color pigments that occurs as wines age. Although generally associated with finer red wines, sediment occasionally appears in white wines, usually in the form of nearly colorless crystals. For port drinkers, the term crust, synonymous with sediment, is often used. Sediment should be allowed to settle completely before the wine is decanted into another container so that when the wine is served none of the deposit will transfer to the glass. You can also simply allow the bottle to sit upright for a while until all of the sediment settles to the bottom, then pour the wine off slowly leaving the sediment in the bottom.

Many wines are stored in an upside down position to keep the cork moist during aging. In this case, sediments may congregate around the neck of the bottle and be visible upon uncorking. You can simply wipe the inside of the neck clean with your finger or a light paper towel and then let the bottle settle a while before serving.

Sediment in Wine - The grainy, bitter-tasting deposit sometimes found in wine bottles, most often with older wines.