Avia Cabernet Sauvignon

[Lana]

We received a box of wines back in the '80s as a gift. I want to get rid of it, but my husband says to check on the value. Any help from you would be appreciated.

It is 1981 Avia, product of Yugoslavia, produced and bottled by Slovin, Jjubljana, imported by Laureate Imports Co., Miami, FL. Contains 1 bottle each of: Chablis Blanc, Sabernet Sauvignon, and Riesling.

Do you suggest drinking them or throwing them away? Thanks.

[Innkeeper]

Hi Lana, and welcome to the Wine Board. You might try one and see if it is OK. If you don't know how to tell if it is OK, go out and buy a new one. It will run around $4 or $5. Then you can compare. If things don't work out, and sorry to say, they may not; you just may have to dump it all down the sink.

[Tastevin]

Hello Lana.
You should have drank it when you got it, definately none of it will be drinkable now. Those kinds of Yugoslav wines had a shelf life of about 12 months, if that. I suppose some will argue that everything has a value to someone, but in this case - zilch. I believe Laureate Imports still trade in the States, if so, I suppose you could ask them. I wouldn't spend your money buying current Avia products simply to compare them with yours, just a little sniff of your wines will leave you in no doubt that they are off. Use the 12 or 15 dollars on a decent bottle of wine to drown your sorrows.
T.