I have an unopened magnum 1.5L of 1978 Cabernet that is hand signed by both Gallo Brothers (Earnest & Julio).?

Question

Signatures are on the lable in what looks to be Sharpie or fountain pen. There is an accompanying letter of thanks on Gallo winery letterhead. I am not sure of the drinkability, but it has been laid down in an inside closet for the last 20 or so years and the cork is original with foil intact. Anybody know where I might turn to find how much this thing is worth?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Probably not too much. Regardless of the wine quality, Gallo has no snob appeal for which people will pay.

Answer 2

The wine might be good, but it depends on what temperature it was stored at, as well as the chemistry of the wine. Typically, a red wine will last years longer than a white.

Try the Gallo website below, it may give you some ideas. I would also contact them and ask them directly about this. The winery will know the exact acidity and tannin levels and may be able to tell you if the wine is still good. Through extensive chemical testing, wineries are able to come up with a pretty exact picture of when the wine will be at its best.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Oooh, you may have a total winner! Around 1978 is when CA wines started making world news. Sounds like it's been in good conditions and still intact. Try the absolute snootiest wine shop and talk to the sommelier. They're experts, and hired to be so. They'll give you the honest opinion.

I know someone in NYC who has such a job, and he's well educated and honest. And he also says that people shouldn't be afraid to ask questions, only a bad sommelier will look down on you for a wine choice or question.

Good luck, and hope you found a treasure!

Answer 4

If it was stored as you said, it might be fine, the issue is finding out if there the real signatures, and if there are people interested in buying it, I sell computer parts on Ebay, I had a bottle one time of a Lebanese Red wine, I purchased at the Rare Wines store in Toronto Canada, and I happened to be there the day the vintner was there,

He had to smuggle the wine out of Lebanon after the Israeli army ran over the vineyard and trash his winery, he took the wine to France and bottle it there he signed my bottle, his name was Gaston Hochtar, I should have kept it, but drank it one depressing night and threw out the bottle. I bought my sister and he husband a bottle of Dom Perignon when they got married 21 yrs ago, it was a 1978 vintage, they still have it and refuse to open it, I have told them, drink it or use it to clean the windows.

Just make sure if you put it on Ebay to set a price and there are sites on the net that will give you a quote to ask for it if you decide to sell, I would ask $200.00..