Expert: Paul Wagner - 9/28/2007

Question
I found a 46" (long neck) gallon glass bottle of red wine chianti; i can not locate the year on the bottle. i never seen a bottle like this before, could it be worth anything and can it be consumed?

Answer
Dear Sondra,

These long-necked Chianti bottles were specially made for restaurants to use as displays, so the wine inside them was pretty ordinary -- meant to be drunk within a year or two. It would not hurt you to taste the wine but it won't be good enough to serve with dinner any more. Unfortunately your bottle has no market value, but you can always use it as the makers intended -- as a lovely curiosity and conversation piece.

Cheers.