is this Pink Champagne any good?

[alonzomourning]

I just found a bottle of "Great Western" Pink Champagne produced by pleasant valley wine co., while cleaning out a closet. It was made in 1969 or earlier, as it was given to my grandparents on their 25th anniversary and they were going to drink it on their 50th (neither survived that long). It does not have a year on it. I know very little about wine, especially pink champagne. Is this wine any good? What is it worth? I'm not sure if I should save it for a special occasion, or just keep it as a memento without drinking it.

[Kcwhippet]

Welcome to the WineBoard, am. Great Western is made by Pleasant Valley Wine Co. which was founded in 1860, and has the distinction of being U.S. Bonded Winery No. 1. They've been making Great Western "champagne" for about 145 years, less the Prohibition years. Unfortunately, it's not generally regarded as one of the world's finer sparkling wines. It should probably be drunk within a couple years from when it was made. It should probably have been drunk no later than your grandparents' 30th anniversary. It's not drinkable now and has no real value, other than sentimental.

[This message has been edited by Kcwhippet (edited 10-19-2005).]

[wondersofwine]

Are you Alonzo Mourning or a fan? I heard commentators on sports radio today saying that Alonzo Mourning is probably the best dressed man in America.

[alonzomourning]

Just a fan of mourning.

Though I never knew wine could go bad so quickly, I thought all wine lasted.

[Kcwhippet]

Unfortunately not. About 95% of all the wine made in the world is meant to be drunk within a few years of production. The rest made for longer aging is the very expensive stuff - as much as $1000 per bottle.