Vintners are learning that wine by any funky name may sell as well

AP via Boston.com ^ | 14 August 2006 | Michelle Locke

[Fractal Trader]

Would you pour a glass of Marilyn Merlot? How about pulling out some Screw Kappa Nappa for that next college reunion?

Wine labels, once dominated by ornate script and just as fancy verbiage, have gone from frumpy to funky.

``It's making wine less elitist, and it's making wine fun," said Paul Dolan, partner in Mendocino Wine Co., whose labels include Tusk 'N Red and Big Yellow, a cab, of course.

A quarter-century ago, wine names stuck to the classics, as vintners tried to establish brands and teach customers there was more to wine than red or white. Now, with most US consumers familiar with at least the big four grape varietals -- chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, and sauvignon blanc -- and with a lot more wine competing for market share, the dynamics of naming have shifted.

Like the critter labels, or wines named after animals, oddball labels aim to start a conversation with consumers.

``It's easier to remember a dancing bear than a multisyllabic Italian last name," said Donny Sebastiani, a proprietor in Don Sebastiani & Sons. The company came out some years ago with the quirkily named Smoking Loon and has branched out to Gino DaPinot, Used Automobile Parts, a blend of five Bordeaux varietals grown in the Napa Valley, and the cork-free Screw Kappa Napa.

[SNIP]

``The word I've heard most about the kind of marketing appeals they respond to is `kinky,' " Bisson said. ``The name jumps out at them off the shelf, and they go, `Oh, what is this?' "

[Fractal Trader]

The word I've heard most about the kind of marketing appeals they respond to is kinky

[Fractal Trader]

wine ping

[NautiNurse]

Click to be +/- on this low volume wine ping list.

Oenology news ping.

[Michael.SF.]

Vintners are learning that wine by any funky name may sell as well

They are slow learners:

Bonny Doon's Le Cigare Volant circa 1980

[tubebender]

I prefer Bob's Really Good Red but I can only find it at times at the local Co-Op. I try to buy a case when I pass near his winery in Lake County north of Napa Sonoma counties.

[Don Carlos]

Fat Bastard - silly name, pretty fair wine! Bump!

[pissant]

2 buck chuck?

[NautiNurse]

[AlaninSA]

Can't ignore the classics:

Just kidding...

I'm a Merlot and Shiraz fan...

[WSGilcrest]

[quantim]

I've been toying with a PS ZOT wine label graphic but can't seem to reconcile the proper varietal blend.

Also cannot bridge commonality of idjuts and wine.

Ideas welcome.

[Caipirabob]

Foil wrapped screw-top... Ooooooh!

[CTOCS]

Here in the store we stock one called "Cheap Red Wine". It has a plain khaki label with military-style stencil letters.

Customers love it. It's one of our best sellers.

[Constitution Day]

The French vintners in Côtes du Rhône were considerably unamused.

[uglybiker]

Care for a glass of

[cbkaty]

nothing but the best for me!

[Constitution Day]

You have good taste. I didn't see that before I posted my #14. :)

[NautiNurse]

LOL--Two threads in less than a day. We have to stop meeting like this...

[BluH2o]

I've had a 'Screw Kappa Napa' chard ... actually pretty good ... goes for around $9.00, as I recall.

[Happygal]

Hahahaha...have to say wouldn't be the first time I had something that fitted that description! ;)