Depends on the volume of wine and the volume of your compost pile. Since alcohol does kill bacteria a lot of wine, in relation to the amount of compost, would not be good. However, a small quantity probably would not really do that much harm.

I have added the occasional bottle of wine with no problems to the bin, not to the growing area.

I make bad wine into wine vinegar so I never have that problem. :-]

Probably talking about 1 bottle every month or so into a 4x4 bin.

I guess the question is, is there any _benefit_ to adding the wine? If not, I can just pour it down the drain.

No harm, no special benefit ... but the joy of taking a substandard bottle out to the bin can overcome the reluctance to walk that far.

Anything from the kitchen that is not just water has *something* in the way of nutrients, so it's not wasted effort if you believe in diverting nutrients from the landfill (or in this case wastewater treatment plant). I put flat soda or beer into the compost as well.

Thanks, everyone. A couple glasses' worth heading out to the bin tonight...

Ok , I probably shouldn't say this in case my reputation here gets tarnished consequently, but here's something I learned around 1958 during the ear infection/tonsillitis years, when my mother thought she'd outclever a five-year-old by burying a hunk of foully bitter penicillin in a hitherto pleasant slice of banana or hitherto much favored bread 'n molasses combination.

So what I'd learn? There is no pill so bitter (or wine so spoiled) that a perfect pinching of nostril cannot conquer. Down to your last beer? See that spoiled quart of wine that's been in the hallway for two weeks waiting returning? Pinch securely. Swill. Wait five minutes. Breathe.

How does one get 1 bottle of spoiled wine per month? I finally poured out a part of a bottle of Champagne bought to celebrate the new year, because we forgot about it, but even after several weeks the non bubbly wines, opened, are still good. It takes a fairly long time for even some of the cheap wines to turn to vinegar, even if not capped.

Its definitely better to pour it in the compost than down the drain.

Alcohol is primarily sugar... piles like fermentation.

My pile appreciates a nice swig.

I agree with you kimmsr, we almost always have a partially drunk bottle in the fridge. I have noticed that some wines really change flavors pretty quick though. Depends on your tolerance for degradation. I live in

"much favored bread 'n molasses combination"

Annpat, wouldn't the molasses make that bread soggy, even a little bit? This explains your irrational phobia of soggy bakery items. Combine a favored snack with a bitter pill add a stubborn and cranky 5 year old ... voila classic aversion therapy. Happy Birthday, BTW.

"irrational phobia?" Either you've just revealed something unsavory about yourself, dear, or you've made an unfortunate typo. I wish we could go back and delete your post for your sake; it makes you sound uncouth.

I would avoid adding anything with Alcohol until Friday or the little composting critters may be a little slow working the next day.....LOL

Question: "How does one get 1 bottle of spoiled wine per month?"

Answer: Live in Pennsylvania, where all wine is sold by the state monopoly. One's odds of winding up with spoiled wine increase dramatically. This is not to say that the state stores sell spoiled wine, but rather that you drink a glass (possibly following annpat's technique) and are so unimpressed that the rest of the bottle sits on the counter/in the fridge until finally you open it up again and discover it's turned.

Ann, unsavory and uncouth pretty much sums me up. Add in tactless and you've got the whole picture. I suppose rationality, like beauty, are in the eye of the beholder (both of which I'm certain you have bins full). Perhaps I was hasty in labeling your unorthodox ideas as irrational. And here I thought you'd bristle at "stubborn".

I never cease to be amazed. The Wall Street Journal on forum doctors was right. I had a question and an opinion or two. Darned if I would post them here. Some attitudes are way out of line. Being holier than thou is where the Pope came from. I don't wish to go there either.

My ma ma once said, "son if you can't say something nice don't speak". Most of the time I listen to that fine advise.

randy was only kidding, doc, when he called me irrational.

randy, I have considered your theory and wonder if you haven't hit on something. I always thought it was my brother's doing, guessing that the reason he built the elaborate barrier of cereal boxes between us when we were children at breakfast was because he found my bowl of milk and swollen cheerios too disgusting to lay eyes on. But you think it was the molasses and bread, in my formative years, that made me so sensitive?

(You're right about my bins. :^])

I wasn't calling randy unsavory and uncouth. No, I thought his ir- typo gave the impression that he engaged in unsavory composting practices. I know randy better than that.

If you drop a worm in a glass of wine, like, um, a practical joke? Well the worm dies. So I would draw two conclusions from this.

1) Worms shouldn't drink

2) If you have a high concentration of worms in your compost, you should probably sprinkle it on over the course of a few days.

I must confess I once did practice unsavory composting, but having been enlightened by to the perils of planarium by annpat, I no longer have the need or desire to confess such behavior.

Unsavory and uncouth are the nicest things I've been called all week.

Doc, I do hope you'll reconsider and not let a little playfulness deter you from posting questions & comments. It's a fun group and wonderfully wise in the ways of waste.

I'm sorry, doc. I was just teasing randy, knowing full well that he wasn't really engaging in Uncouth Composting. I think it's nice that you defended him, though. Don't let me drive you away---I just can't keep my mouth shut when I see compost being abused.

Dave, there's a third possibility, isn't there? After a brief, pleasant swim, the worm, lacking any kicking parts, drowns in the glass of wine? It is a good practical joke, though.

Unless your the worm. ;-)