Yes, I said it. Anyway, here it is: Santa’s Reserve California Merlot.

Sadly, it would appear that this label is still not approved for distribution:

Licensing and Regulation Division – Holiday Wine Labels: Heidi Whisman; Team Leader for Manufacturers, Importers and Wholesalers Section brought forth a request from Grape Links Inc., (a California winery holding a Certificate of Approval to ship their wines into Washington) who is requesting label approval for three wines under the Holiday Reserve brand name. They are also requesting reconsideration of the Santa’s Reserve labels which were disapproved last year. Approval was recommended due to the fact that these labels are intended to be a fun and amusing way to market to adults rather than to be especially appealing to children.

Board Member Brydon moved for approval of the Holiday Reserve wine label. Board Member Farias seconded, and the Holiday Reserve label was passed. Chairman Prince disapproved, but the motion carried.

Board Member Brydon moved for disapproval/denial for the Santa’s Reserve label. Board Member Farias seconded, and the request for approval was denied unanimously.

Ho well! You’ll have to make your own labels.

This one was another purchase for a label. Rather tasty, too.

To protect the innocent here, I’ll keep this one simple. There’s a doctor at nearby facility to whom this bottle was a perfect gift for more than one reason.

He never got the bottle of wine.

It is actually quite tasty.

Yum.

At the local wine store with a good friend today I heard mention of wine bottles with images of bicycles on the label. Naturally, I felt I could help out with a few recommendations.

Interestingly, Wine and Wheels appears in most of the top Google results. I thought, therefore, that I should continue the ‘bicycles on wine bottle’ theme, or meme, with a few more labels you might not be able to find in your local shop. That is, of course, until my dream comes true and I have a winery/bike shop some day. Until then, keep checking back with this link to discover new wines with bicycles on the label.

Prost!

An interesting article, which mentions wine marketing, at Courant.com includes this paragraph about the power of Yellowtail’s label.

Anand Palani, owner of Gillette Ridge Wines in Bloomfield, says Yellow Tail customers are loyal enough that he can tuck the wine toward the back of his store. Yellow Tail fans will take the time to find it, and in the process, eyeball several other wines that they might purchase on impulse.

Interesting. Click here for the full article