1975 Firestone Johannisberg Riesling

I have not had that Firestone Riesling you mention. I did have some of their Riesling of some year in the distant past. If it is a dry style, I doubt if it will be very good now. Most of the dry California Rieslings of that era did not age well over a few years, although there were a few exceptions such as Stony Hill. A few of the very sweet late harvest Rieslings of this era still are drinking well. The late harvest Rieslings of ths era often list their residual sugar content on the front or back labels. This can reach 30% or more. Most of the 70s late havest Rieslings that I have tasted in fairly recent years, that have lasted well, contain well over 10% residual sugar. So, as a wine, your bottle might not now be worth much. It would be worth most to a collector of Firestone wines who just happens to need it to complete a collection, but I have not heard of anyone who collects old Firestone wines. Of course the wine would have to have been stored under near ideal conditions over the years to have much of a chance of even being drinkable.

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That goes back a ways. It's my memory I am most concerned with.

First Harvest is like Early Harvest. Usually means very light with delicate fruit and a very short shelf life.

Does that bottle say "Ambassador Vineyard" on it? If so, those wines were fantastic Rieslings that truly resembled German wines (Auslese or a light BA).

At a brown bagger of the local German Wine Society in 1984, someone threw a

1978 Firestone Ambassador Vineyard in the mix and it won, hands down! Sadly, Firestone yanked out the Riesling from the Ambassador Vineyard when Riesling became the black sheep of winedom in the early 80's.

Going back to Cwdjrx, if it has the horsepower of an Ambassador Vineyard, you may be in luck depending on storage. Worth? Doubtful.

I have digressed. Sorry.

If it is truly a First Harvest or even their semi-dry style,... sorry. It is worthless on all levels unless you want to experience the taste of a long since over-the-hill California Riesling! Remember drinking wine is about experiences and adding to your pallate's catalog. But in this case, not to your wallet's catalog. Lar

Perhaps you can use the bottle as a paperweight.

I remember Firestone JRs were relatively high in acidity in their youth and I wouldn't be surprised if there were some life in 1975 if it never was exposed to prolonged periods of high temperatures.

I no longer have firestone. When I traded in my explorer I get rid of them. Kept going flat.