Traditional white wines range in color from pale yellow to rich gold. Unopened bottles of white wine that appear dark or brown in color usually signify a wine fault that tends to worsen as time progresses. Appearance aside, once you remove the cork from the bottle, color may not be the only thing that catches your attention. If white wine is so brown that you have to do a double-take, your sense of taste and smell may also be affected.

When oxygen enters a bottle of wine, it quickly begins to convert ethyl alcohol to acetaldehyde -- a compound associated with deterioration. As the deterioration continues, the wine begins to change color and develop an anesthetic taste and "off" odor. Oxidation tends to turn white wines into an orange-brown color. Although oxidation commonly occurs in an opened bottle, it can also happen inside a bottle that is still corked.

The cork may be to blame for white wine that has turned brown. Cork shrinkage in an unopened bottle of wine is usually the result of dryness. The wine inside of the bottle should always meet the cork, keeping it moist and pliable. A cork that is continuously dry may shrink or crumble, breaking the seal and contaminating the contents. Even the smallest break in the seal allows oxygen to enter the bottle, resulting in quick deterioration.

Sparkling wines have plenty of carbon dioxide in the bottle, which forms a barrier between any air that enters the bottle and the wine itself -- drastically slowing oxidation. For this reason, sparkling wines can be stored in an upward position. Ordinary, white wines do not have this protection and fare better when stored on their sides, with the label facing upward. The optimum temperature for storing white wine is between 40 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

White wine that turns brown isn't necessarily bad. However, when the brown color is accompanied by other indicators of deterioration, it is best not to drink the wine. For example, if you open the bottle of brown wine and smell fresh fruit, you may still be in luck; however, spoiled wine smells like vinegar. In addition, if white wine tastes so bitter that you pucker up when it hits your lips, it should be discarded.