AARGH! Wine Bottle Burst in Car! From Heat, I Think!

15 years ago

This is so pathetic. I had parked my car on the street yesterday in blazing sun (hot and humid here--heat index above 100). When I went out in early evening to put it in the garage I smelled it before I saw it. One of two large bottles of red wine I bought two days ago and sitting on the back seat floor in a bag had BURST! I had been "meaning" to bring them inside and just put it off because of unloading other groceries, etc. It must have been from the heat but I had no clue that glass bottles would burst in heat. I diluted it with water and blotted it up as best I could, then left the car windows open (in the garage) to dry, but it was blazing hot and humid again all last night. I'm scared to go face it today! I am less worried about stain (the carpet is a dark charcoal gray) than lingering smell. What should I use to scrub it?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (18)

wildchild
15 years ago
Oh no. I would take it somewhere to be professionally cleaned.

Pray you don't get pulled over for some minor thing. You'd have a lot of 'splaining to do. ;-)

Hope it wasn't good wine. Wine should never be left in a warm place even if it doesn't explode.
nicole__
15 years ago
Had that happen in my kitchen, which used to have a carpeted floor! There was a wine bottle in the built in wine rack that popped it's cork in the heat.

Orange(smelling) cleaners would help.
Related Discussions
Over-pressure problem in hot sauce bottle
Q
Comments (14)
Ken writes: Helium quality are usually the silvered mylar type which are heat sealed sheets fused together. Yes, these do keep helium in, but regular latex rubber ones never seem to last. Ken, Can't say I much care abt helium anyways.... unless want to talk funny. LOL When I used to make wines, it was with these cheap plastic water seals which worked great for my needs. Similar to this?...: Must be nice to live someplace where you can grow most anything at any time.. I agree. It still irritates me that I didn't retire to perhaps Texas "Hill Country" or even Florida. Such is life. Stuck here in Zone 5/6 show me state. Thankfully no kidney problems here as am a beer drinker. Can't tolerate (Crohn's Disease) anything stronger. jt
...See More
Lending friends money & Heating costs
Q
Comments (33)
What an interesting thread this has been; and inspirational, too. The replies have been thoughtful, well constructed, insightful. There is a refreshing thread of compassion and honesty that runs through it all. We have a charity budget, too. We prefer to donate locally; money to the oil company, some to the electric company, new coats, boots, mittens and hats... the food pantry. Kindness is the rare coin that returns the spendthrift twofold, but leaves the miser penniless. I tend to fall into line with steve o on the "choices". As a couple the helpmeet and I have made a lot of tough choices, some worked out better than others. We've been fortunate and sharing some of our good fortune has always been important to us. I worked with a nice guy for some years. A wife, kids... but the guy is a financial moron; one dumb CHOICE after another. They desperately want a house (but she will only live in a particularly trendy community because it's where she grew up). But they are upsidedown on not, but 2, car loans. Wife doesn't work ("we're raising kids, you know"), but gets expensive haircuts, dye jobs, manicures, all to facilitate her appearance in her singing group (that COSTS they money!). He needs dental work desperately, and she's getting a dye-job? I certainly don't understand the priorities. Choices; what are you willing to do to get what you want, what are you willing to give up in the short term to attain long range goals? Every one of has to compromise every day of our lives. I see no willingness to compromise in their household and I see that it keeps them from getting ahead. He lamented last summer that she didn't help him. She was home all day with kids, but the sink was full of dishes from last night's supper when he returned home, he did them. When he asked me what I'd do in his position, I told him she ought to GET A JOB as a cashier/clerk/whatever for a big company (she hasn't worked in over 12 years). She ought to tap into their insurance and retirement programs, and they ought to bank every dime she makes, living on his pay, and retiring the car loans ASAP. In a year/two they'd have a very tidy downpayment for a home. "She'd never go for that, she's too qualified to be a cashier, she could be a music teacher... ". Then why isn't she? I think it's pretty much all about choices.
...See More
aquired taste for wine?
Q
Comments (13)
After you taste lots of wine you will know the answer. The reason I suggested lighter fruiter wines is because my experience shows that most people prefer those initially. If you want to age the wine, that is an entirely different issue and not something you are going to do without knowing a thing about wine! So to your question - the region is what some people hold to be most important. Others disagree. The French have a word - terroir, that doesn't perfectly translate but it cna be understood as the microclimate - the slope of a hillside, whether the sun reflects from a nearby river, the type of soil, the fact that the trees at the top prevent the cold winds from coming down, etc. That is why some winemakers prefer grapes from one vineyard or one section of a vineyard to another. Throughout the world there are many sites where wine can be made. But in Napa for example, some people like to be high on a mountain, say Howell Mountain, while others are in the valley and others are on slight slopes in Rutherford. The soil types vary, the fog effects vary, the winds vary, etc. In the Mosel in Germany for example, the area is cold but the Rhine river reflects sunlight on to the steep hills and the vineyards are a few degress warmer than they might otherwise be. That really matters. So the gross regions (Napa, Bordeaux, Long Island, Rioja) matter and so do the smaller subregions within those areas. And they matter for more reasons than those I just mentioned. In some countries, the law dictates what grapes can be grown in certain areas. So in Rioja in Spain for example, you will find tempranillo, some garnacha, some manzuelo, and some cabernet sauvignon, although not too much. In Napa on the other hand, you will find almost no tempranillo, very little garnacha, probably no manzuelo, and a whole lot of cabernet sauvignon. These grapes produce very different wines. In Napa they can grow whatever they want, in Rioja, they cannot, at least if they want to sell the wine as a Rioja crianza, reserva, or gran reserva. They would not be allowed, for example, to plant zinfandel. In addition, there are aging and vinification requirements in many areas. Germany for example, might require that certain grapes be picked at a certain time if they are to be made into a Spatlese. In Australia, they pick whenever they want. Spain dictates how long a wine must sit in wood and in bottle before release. Argentina for example, does not. In general, the European countries are more restrictive. They limit the choices to certain grapes in certain areas. How zinfandel would do in Piedmonte, for example, is an existential question because I doubt that it will ever be planted there. As a result, things like the country, the region within the country, the producer, the winemaker (who may be hired by the wine producer), the vintage (year the wine was made), the varietal, and a hoste of other factors really make a difference! So far from not mattering, all of these things matter a whole lot. Back to your choices. You don't like the "bite". I agree with the poster who suggested that you are probably referring to tannins. So go with a wine having fewer tannins. That is why I suggested a cru Beaujolais. Or a young, sometimes called "joven" Spanish wine. Or a wine from the Barossa valley in Australia. Or a wine from Mendoza in Argentina. All of them produce examples for under $20 or even under $15 that should be good choices. If you want to try something aged, you will need to spend a little more. That will be an entirely different experience and you will need to find a store that can source these wines or buy them at auction or from private parties. There are a few places that sell some older wines - Lopez de Heredia, for example, is a Spanish producer that is perhaps one of the most traditional in the world. They have released 1964 and 1973 vintage wines from their winery. They are NOT going to be like the others I recommended. In addition, they will be about $250 or so. Best of luck.
...See More
I got a job. I'm excited (I think).
Q
Comments (32)
You guys are so nice. Tami, good to know cat litter can be used like that. I almost always have a few small bags of it in the car -- only because I usually buy it in quantity and I tend to be lazy about unloading all of it. Kathleen, I was thinking about "cold feet" just this morning. I don't remember such resistance to change when I was young. This change--my new job--is definitely for the better. Not only do I need the money, but I'm aware that I also need more contact with people. Although I love the idea of living and writing in my old farmhouse, and do pretty well by myself, too much isolation isn't good for me. So you'd think I'd have no anxiety whatsoever about going back to work. Ha! Sad to say, I guess it's true that as we get older we find it harder to change our ways. Foggy, my son lives only four miles away, so I could call on him to take the dogs out. I could also call on him to come pull me out of a snowbank. :-)
...See More
jannie
15 years ago
1. I had a half gallon glass bottle of milk that cracked in my trunk. Nothing to do but live with it. Drive with windows open as much as possible. We ended up crashing the car, not on purpose, and we got a new one.2. Also DH left a package of frozen shrimp overnight. Leave the doors open as much as possible, except when driving or if it's raining out. 3. Good luck!
Georgysmom
15 years ago
I hate to say this, but I'm not sure I'd drink the second bottle....at the very least, would not serve it to company. Heat is not good for wine. Sorry for the mess you have to clean up. I did the same thing with a bag of potatoes. It was not quite this hot but never the less it was hot. I unpacked all the groceries and decided I didn't have to bring the potatoes in right away and then I forgot about them. A few days later I brought them in but when I went to use them they were all rotten. However, potatoes are a lot cheaper than wine! LOL
gardenspice
15 years ago
Ugh. I'd definitely either steam clean it or take it to be steam cleaned.
Even if it does not burst, the heat is ruinous to wine. I have had wine go bad in the cupboard during the Summer months.
Rudebekia
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for your responses! I looked at it this morning and, while still damp, it really doesn't look or smell too bad. I'll get it professionally cleaned if need be. It was funny last night: I hauled a bucket of water and a ton of rags out to blot it up; the water and rags turned red and some splashed onto the garage floor. LOL--It looked like I was cleaning up a huge blood stain! jannine, I keep thinking it could be worse: could have been milk (or shrimp or potatoes!) Actually, the wine smell is rather pleasant for a wine lover. . .
hgl_gaylemarie
15 years ago
Pour Hydrogen Peroxide on it and blot.
jel48
15 years ago
After cleaning thoroughly, I'd try putting a large bowl full of cider vinegar in the car and (with windows closed) let it sit for 2-3 days if possible. Not in the sun :-) Vinegar is a good smell remover.
pammyfay
15 years ago
Jannie: I know you didn't mean this to be funny, but I really chuckled when I imagined this and somebody NOT doing the 'except when' part!:

"Leave the doors open as much as possible, except when driving or if it's raining out."
trinitytx
15 years ago
I used Resolve carpet cleaner in my trunk after leaving frozn fish in my car. Pheweeee! it really helped.
I also used some of Natures Miracle (for animal accidents on carpets) and it worked great. Thank goodness! it was a horrible stench.
But it worked well and the smell was gone!

Trin
linda_in_iowa
15 years ago
I would scrub it with a mixture of white vinegar and water.
Rudebekia
Original Author
15 years ago
Wouldn't vinegar just leave an obnoxious vinegar smell in the car? I'm wondering about Nature's Miracle. I was astonished that it actually did work on a cat pee smell, and I still have 1/2 a bottle left. Do such enzyme cleaners work on other smells than just cat smells?
Sally Brownlee
15 years ago
I think Natures Miracle works great for cats.

For the wine, I would sprinkle generously with baking soda overnight and vacuum.

Also charcoal is a great odor absorber...let a few pieces lay around the spill.

I once had a canteloupe roll under the car seat. It rotted from the inside before it burst...even then I think it sat there a couple days before I figured it out...!
YUCK.
murraysmom Zone 6a OH
15 years ago
What an amazing collection of things exploding/rotting/generally stinking up cars!! I had no idea this happened to so many people. Just this week I left two carrots on my car seat while I was out riding my horse and when I got back, the carrots had turned black!! I should have given them to my horse right away instead of saving them for when I was leaving. This heat is really powerful. Marita, I hope you are able to get your wine explosion taken care of. What about leaving a bowl of vinegar in the car while it's sitting in the garage? I've used that to remove paint smell from a newly painted room. Maybe it would work for wine. Good luck.
maddielee
15 years ago
more then likely that second bottle of wine is also BAD (wine shouldn't get hot)...in the future, remember to carry the wine in first, then the ice cream.

Sorry.

ML
trinitytx
15 years ago
You could just make sure that all the glass is gone and use a straw to suck up the rest... :)
No really the natures miracle works great on any smell....

Trin
donna37
15 years ago
Sounds like you got lots of good advice above.

DGD posted on her Facebook page that she had about 10 cans of Dr.Pepper explode in the trunk of her car.
dilly_dally
15 years ago
I think the wine smell will eventually dissapate. Clean up as much as possible and let it dry. I had two jugs of wine for cooking freeze in my car while out shopping and the bottles exploded. Yes, they were glass. The frozen wine could be scrapped up along with most of the glass shards. It was impossible to rinse all of the wine out of the carpet since it was so cold even hot water was freezing on contact. The smell was bad for a while but eventually gone and I did not have to do anything special.

Once I had a package of raw meat slide out of the plastic shopping bag and hide under the seat. It was not noticed for about ten days since the car had not been driven anywhere. Ooooph. It was summer. The meat package did not leak but the odor came through and I smelled it for a long time. I sprayed vinegar around the car and lavender water. I don't smell it anymore but it took a long time.

AARGH! Wine Bottle Burst in Car! From Heat, I Think!

Comments (18)

wildchild

nicole__

Related Discussions

jannie

Georgysmom

gardenspice

Rudebekia
Original Author

hgl_gaylemarie

jel48

pammyfay

trinitytx

linda_in_iowa

Rudebekia
Original Author

Sally Brownlee

murraysmom Zone 6a OH

maddielee

trinitytx

donna37

dilly_dally

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

AARGH! Wine Bottle Burst in Car! From Heat, I Think!

Comments (18)

Related Discussions

RudebekiaOriginal Author

RudebekiaOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Rudebekia
Original Author

Rudebekia
Original Author