The Fun Side of Wine

May 30 2006

I ran across a small blurb in the June issue of Gourmet magazine on Design Within Reach—a company in the Pottery Barn/Restoration Hardware/West Elm niche that sells modern furniture and home goods via a catalogue.They have a genius contest that entails readers creating a chair out of the cork, wire and/or foil using no more than two champagne bottles. A couple of the more clever ones are above, and the full results are here with pictures.

I recently referenced a new book that was coming off press thathighlighted the interesting, odd and esoteric in wine labels.

Mycuriosity piqued, I ordered the book. It is not supposed to be off press until June 1, but Ireceived my copy last week and another reader indicated that he saw it at aBorder’s several weeks ago. So, it’s available now and on Amazon, where I purchased it.

Nonetheless,it’s a small, charming book with full color pictures. It’s probably best leftas a stocking stuffer or add-on birthday gift for the wine lover in yourfamily, though. A couple of the interesting ones are:

Old Git (pictured at left) was renamed "Old Fart" for the American market. A decided improvement, no doubt.

Another curious wine label is called Frog’s Piss. A skewering by the English against the French and their predilection for Frog leg’s, this is a cheap table red.