Older doesn’t always mean better, especially with moderately priced wine. “People who love wine don’t save it, we drink it!” says Anita LaRaia, founder of Anita LaRaia’s Wine School, in Atlanta. Follow these tips to make sure your wine hasn’t turned.

Check the color. Red wines fade and white wines darken when they oxidize or get too old. Brown tones in either are typically bad news.

Smell it. White wines should smell like fresh fruits and reds like berries. If either smells like vinegar or raisins, it’s probably past its prime.