The following excerpt is from the article "BEYOND ANIMAL MAGNETISM, The lesson of critter labels: Drinkers judge wine by what's on the bottle" by Jon Bonné, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Editor, December 15, 2006. The Top 10 American Wine LabelsAmerican vintners are bolder than ever about how they brand their bottles. The best labels are iconic — instantly recognizable, unique and marked by a distinct visual style.
1. Sine Qua Non
At $300 or more per bottle, it might be cheaper to buy artwork than Manfred Krankl's wines. But his determination to give each wine in each vintage a unique name and look has made his bottles collector's items even after they've been drained. Krankl designs the artwork in spare moments throughout the year, then fine-tunes them for the label. While some critics view his efforts as calculated marketing, he considers it more an outlet for a hobby. "Now I can kind of force my artwork into people's faces," he says. "Before, no one got to see it except my wife." If the art (or the wine) were mediocre, it would be a gimmick. But Krankl is a talented guy, and the resulting bottles are intensely personal expressions, which is just what a cult wine should be.
2. Eric Kent Wines
The artist series has been a tradition ever since Mouton Rothschild commissioned Philippe Jullian to adorn its label in 1945. Most wineries choose well-known artists but Colleen Teitgen, a partner at this nascent Santa Rosa winery and wife of winemaker Kent Humphrey, reached out to her art school pals, offering wine, a small share of profits and a bit of prestige. "We felt like we wanted to give exposure to lesser-known artists, emerging artists," she says. In particular, Oakland artist Kevin Keul's panels for the 2004 Stiling Vineyard Pinot Noir -- composed of found objects preserved in resin -- is a perfect fit. The art alone fills the front label; Teitgen, formerly an art director, places each artist's signature and Web address on the back.
3. Owen Roe ...
4. Ridge Vineyards ...
5. St. Supery Elu and Virtu ...
6. Bonny Dewn DEWN Chardonnay "Pazzo" ...
7. Esca Syrah ...
8. K Vintners The Boy ...
9. Red Car "Trolley Series" Syrah ...
10. Radio-Coteau ... |
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