Cirro are the highest of all clouds formed by ice crystals with thin wisp like feather trails – and Viscosity’s latest range of wine. From the purest of water sources 25,000ft above New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds coastline the story begins, only to leave you somewhere much much higher by the end.

Design by Tass Gyenes | Source :: Lovely Package

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This bottle was designed to honor Agapito Rico, an important figure in the DO of Jumilla Spain. He was a pioneer in achieving quality wines in this region. The grape that is grown in this land is the Monastrell, a strong flavored grape suitable for arid areas. Agapito is an expert in cultivating wine and the purity expressed by the bottle echoes his quality as a wine maker.

Designed by Eduardo del Fraile | Source :: Lovely Package

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Design by la cocina | Source :: Packaging World

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&Co represents simplicity – of purpose, provenance and production. The winery produces a single exceptional estate wine each season. To emphasize this we've pared the identity back to a black and white palette. We've made a feature of the type, letting it 'speak' to the customer.

&Co breaks convention with more traditional looking wine brands, topped off with the uniquely cool closure of a crown seal, we're not at all upset that once opened we have to drink the whole bottle.

By Salih Küçükaga | Source :: Packaging World | Design :: Inhouse

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This weekend brings wine and food fans to Sonoma for the Sonoma Wine Country Weekend running September 3-5, 2010. The centerpiece of the weekend is the famous Sonoma Valley Wine Auction on September 5 at Cline Cellars which features a variety of tempting auction lots. Some of this year's lots include the Francis Ford Coppola Live Lot which offers trips to Italy and Belize, a Coppola film library and signed wine bottles; the St. Francis Vineyard and Winery - Sex and the City package which offers a private dinner with an unnamed "Sex and the City" star at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, a stay in San Francisco and five cases and four magnums of St. Francis wine; chef camp with tutorials from top Sonoma chefs; as well as plenty of wine lots including "Magnum Force" a collection of prized magnums from Sonoma County vintners.

This year's auction has a California beach party theme with the tagline "Endless Sonoma." In the spirit of the theme the growers and vintners will introduce the lots wearing surfer-style costumes. Hubert Keller of Fleur de Lys in San Francisco and winner of "Top Chef Masters" will team up with Kendall-Jackson executive chef Justin Wangler to present the first course of the auction's meal (an oxtail, fingerling potato and truffle 'cappuccino,') and other regional chefs will prepare the rest of the menu. The menu will include Sonoma-sourced specialties like curried Gravenstein apple miniature grilled cheese sandwiches; eggplant caponata; steak Florentine; pomegranate and herb grill lamb loin; artisan cheeses, breads and more.

A partnership between Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Foundation and Sonoma County Vintners, Sonoma Wine Country Weekend is the area's largest wine and food fundraiser, having jointly donated more than $10 million to local charities that support students, children, farm workers and people in need. Friday winemakers lunches are $85 a person, Friday specialty dinners are $175 and Friday winemaker dinners are $160. On Saturday, the Taste of Sonoma event is $150, the Grand Reserve tasting is $195, the Honorary Chair Dinner: St. Francis Winery is $175 and the Saturday winemaker dinners are $160 each. Tickets for the Sunday auction are $500, half of that is tax deductible.

By Deidre Woollard | Source :: www.luxist.com

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Designed by low ink studio, Spain | Source :: Packaging of the World

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Greenopia released its updated list of the most sustainable U.S. wineries this week with some big changes from last year's rankings. The wineries, rated on factors including transportation, growing practices, transportation, building logistics, and packaging, performed better than ever, and for the first time, two wineries took the top rating of four leaves.

Benziger and French Rabbit share the top spot, with both wineries scoring four out of four leaves (last year, Benziger scored two leaves and French Rabbit scored three). French Rabbit is, according to Greenopia, "the one vineyard who has put together all the pieces of the green puzzle" thanks to its biodynamic farming techniques, TetraPak packaging (which we delved into recently), and thorough environmental reporting. Benziger also features a selection of biodynamic and organic wines. The winery received kudos for natural cork-bottled wines, green building practices, and stringent environmental reporting.

At the bottom of the rankings, Greenopia lists perennial favorites like Yellow Tail (no organic or biodynamic wines, synthetic cork on bottles), Stag's Leap (minimal environmental reporting), and Charles Shaw (grapes grown and processed far from the bottling plant).

Cheap wine enthusiasts need not despair, however–the ultra-tasty French Rabbit wines retail for under $10. And as we recently discovered, organic wines are a bargain more often than not.

By Ariel Schwartz | Source :: Fast Company

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Over the past 15 years the Swartland region, (Western Cape, South Africa), has grown in stature and complexity and today there are enough contrasting wines to showcase this diversity over a weekend.

The aim of the revolutionary weekend (12-13 November 2010) is to raise general awareness of the area, and although there might be stylistic and philosophical differences in the wines to be showcased, they all share a common sense of place – as with all great wine regions of the world.

For the first forum we have invited Stefan Ogier from Domaine Michel & Stéphane Ogier from Ampuis, France. He is a world-renowned producer of fine Rhône wine.

There will also be tastings conducted by some of the local producers in formal and informal formats as well as great meals prepared by Reuben (of Reuben’s Restaurant fame) and local culinary hero Mynhardt Joubert of Bar Bar Black Sheep.

Bookmark the date : 12 & 13 November, 2010

More information : www.theswartlandrevolution.com

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Perfect for picnics, people who don't want to drink an entire bottle of wine in a restaurant….or just perfect for drinking straight from the bottle!

From the guys at Boer & Brit.

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Ruinart, one of the oldest champagne houses in the world (since 1729), has released a special wine stopper called The Golden Thread, designed by Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola (pictured above).

The Fil d'Or or Golden Thread was created to encapsulate the same twisting motion used in the opening of ordinary wire cork cages; the part of the bottle top you have to untwist before opening your champagne. What does it do? Nothing. But it looks very pretty and comes attached to a bottle of delicious Blanc de Blanc. This makes a sophisticated and unusual gift now, or at any point up to and including the holidays. We've never seen anything like it, and imitations are sure to follow.

The Ruinart Golden Thread bottle stopper is available from Sherry-Lehmann for $69.95 (bottle included). It's beautiful enough to keep on display when you're not using and reusing it.

By Annie Scott | Source :: www.luxist.com

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The idea was to create a pulp-movie like look and feel for the wine. We needed to create a fun design to complement the fruity, floral flavor of the wine and give it a look that stands out in crowded wine shops.

Designed by Hook | Source :: Lovely Package

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Boldinc were approached by a charming pair of wine connoisseurs to create their own brand and range of wines. It was obvious from the outset that this cheeky couple agreed to disagree. One portrays the characteristics of a shining saint whereas the other depicts the attributes of a saucy sinner. Their passion and expertise provided the platform & perfect formula for sourcing a range of killer wines. The interaction between the two personalities (which resulted in some seriously colourful meetings) was the inspiration behind the new brand. ‘Saint & Sinner’ was born.

S&S loved that descriptors for wines were synonymous with the way we illustrate a woman’s tantalizing qualities.  The pair set out to discover great wines that encapsulated the divine essence of sensual femininity and the intriguing human sexuality.

Five deliciously seductive drops were sourced by S&S from the depths of Australian vineyards; Syrah, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and a Sauvignon Blanc. 

Boldinc were commissioned to jolt this concept into motion. The seductive and tempting ‘Calling Card’ range was born.  The range was based upon Calling Cards or small flyers plastered inside telephone booths to advertise the services of a call girl. Calling cards would traditionally depict a seductress, a provocative description and the phone number to dial to receive her services. A retrospective look at Calling Cards through the ages provides an engaging visual communication of human enterprise that’s both entertaining & authoritative, through cheap colourful 'cottage industry' printing methods.

Boldinc translated this style onto each of the Calling Card variant. Each label depicts unique and dazzling female personalities & her services. Her sassy characteristics are entwined to the tasting notes of the wine inside.  S&S celebrates the distinctive attributes of wine that consumers find so desirable and the complex and subtle characteristics in a woman that can be so enticing. This tongue in cheek range will not be for everyone, it was never meant to be, though we hope the playful qualities shine through.

The wine is aimed at individuals in their late 20’s to early 40’s, both women and men who appreciators of life’s idiosyncrasies. We hope that this range provides many a controversial discussion, during dinner parties.

Each wine comes complete with phone number so the consumer can text for insightful information, cheeky pictures or dangerous specials for purchasing wine in the future.  The naughty interaction between brand and consumer is fun but has a serious side that keeps the brand fresh, drives loyalty and sales.  The Boldinc team thinks you should text to find out!

By Andrew Gibbs | Source :: www.thedieline.com

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This wine label design is inspired by a well-known surf break in the South of Western Australia.

The illustration, inspired by the iconic Mambo surfwear brand is reminiscent of the 60s when every good long board surfer had a VW combi to match. The surf break is well known to residents of the Margaret River region and seemed like the perfect inspiration for a wine that would target a younger demographic.

The wine, from Watershed Wines Margaret River has good standout on the shelf due to its bright colouring and individual design.

Designed by brainCELLS | Source :: Lovely Package

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El Incidente (The Incident) is a graphic portrayal of Don José Miguel Viu’s ill-fated hot-air balloon ride over his vineyards in Colchagua Chile.

Designed by Campoy Príncipi Domenech | Source :: Lovely Package

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Redesign of an Italian wine called Salice Salentino. In Sweden it costs approximately 7€, which is fairly cheap. When I did the research I realized that many people don’t always remember the name of the wine. They remember the taste, the design of the label, etc, but not the name. In Sweden you can only buy alcohol in places called ‘Systembolaget’.

Systembolaget uses numbers on all of their bottles to identify different wines. Sometimes it easier to remember numbers than names. I wanted to use that in my design and I wanted the design to be simple and clean. The three circles are symbols that ‘Systembolaget’ uses to tell customers how the wines taste, if it’s round, rough, etc. The symbols on the label are diecut.

Designed by Sara Böttiger | Source :: Lovely Package

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Morton's The Steakhouse and the Mondavi family are planning a nationwide wine dinner and charity auction on October 7, 2010 at Charles Krug Winery's historic Carriage House in Napa Valley to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The gathering will be broadcast simultaneously to 54 Morton's private dining rooms via satellite.

The evening's hosts will include Michael Mondavi of Folio Fine Wine Partners, Tim Mondavi and Marcia Mondavi Borger of Continuum Estate, and Peter Mondavi, Sr., Peter Mondavi, Jr. and Marc Mondavi of Charles Krug Winery.

The event will kick off an online auction of the first-ever red wine produced by the extended Mondavi family, Siamo Insieme, which means "We are Together" in Italian. The Mondavi family has collaborated to produce a 27-liter bottle (called a primat); a unique blend of Napa Valley grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, produced and blended by the second and third generation of the Mondavi family especially for this event. This bottle will be auctioned online on Hart Davis Hart Wine Co.'s website October 7, 2010 through October 30, 2010, with 100 percent of the winning auction bid benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Guests in 54 Morton's locations will be served the same menu and wines as guests at the Charles Krug Carriage House in Napa Valley. Menu items include tenderloin crostini and miniature crab cakes paired with Charles Krug - Peter Mondavi Family, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009; a harvest green salad topped with sea bass and roasted caper vinaigrette paired with Isabel Mondavi, Sonoma Carneros, Chardonnay 2008; an entree of New York strip sirloin, baked sweet onions with Gruyere, a roasted tomato stuffed with leap spinach and roasted Yukon Gold potato paired with Continuum, Napa Valley, 2007, M by Michael Mondavi, Animo Vineyard, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Charles Krug - Peter Mondavi Family, Napa Valley, VS Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006. The meal ends with cappuccino cream paired with Charles Krug - Peter Mondavi Family, Napa Valley, Zinfandel Port, Lot XIII.

Each Morton's private dining room is equipped with 1080i high-definition programming; a nine-foot screen and theatre-quality surround sound. Members of the Mondavi family's fourth generation will host the event at select locations around the country, from San Francisco to Miami to New York. At each restaurant location, guests will be invited to bid in a silent auction for a trio of premium wines, featuring an autographed bottle from Charles Krug Winery, Continuum Estate and Folio Fine Wine Partners. 100 percent of the winning auction bids from the wine trios will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Tickets are $175 per person.

By Deidre Woollard | Source :: www.luxist.com

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Want to get the most bubbles out of your bubbly? Scientists (French scientists of course) have discovered that the best way to keep your sparkling wines effervescent is to pour it in a "beer-like" way.

Instead of pouring straight into the glass and waiting for the bubbles to settle before adding more, the best way is to pour the way you would to minimize the head on a beer, by tilting the glass and pouring the liquid down the side of the glass. This way the Champagne keeps its bubbles longer. The flute is also better at holding bubbles than the charming old-fashioned champagne coupes.

The French research found that the serving Champagne at lower temperatures helps keep it fizzy.

By Deidre Woollard | Source :: www.luxist.com

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The recession hurt U.S. wine exports last year, but not to Hong Kong, where American imports surged 138 percent to $40 million, according to U.S. trade data.

In recent years, China's newfound wealth has been feeding a demand for luxuries. As part of that new appetite, the Chinese – who once mixed wine with soda – are developing a taste for wine. The number of Chinese who drink imported wine – those willing to hand over $20 or more for a bottle – will grow to about 50 million within the next 15 years, estimates Wine Intelligence. (That's nearly the number in the U.S. who now drink imports.)

Not surprisingly, California wineries currently account for 90 percent of the U.S.'s total wine exports, but small wineries from Washington and Oregon are doing their best to grab a piece, particularly in emerging markets. The value of Washington's shipments to Hong Kong leaped fivefold last year, according to figures cited by the Associated Press.

Hong Kong – a major re-exporter to the Chinese mainland – is fourth-largest export market for U.S. wines, after Canada, the European Union and Japan. Since Hong Kong scrapped an 80 percent import tax in 2008, the country's wine imports leaped to a record $491 million – of which 8 percent was from the U.S. (The bulk of the wine was from France.)

Jonathan Ryweck, a one-man exporter for three Washington wineries, ships a few pallets at a time to the Far East.

"This is not a get-rich scheme, let me tell you," Ryweck told the AP of his Port Townsend, Washington-based company, Transnational Ventures. "It's growing very nicely but it's still real small volume and it's a tough sell."

But it's coming along.

"The Chinese love the taste profile of Washington wines," Ryweck said. "If you can get the product in their mouth, you can sell it." (Read more on American wine in China.)

In May, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke signed an agreement with the Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Development Bureau to help promote U.S. wine sales in China.

Earlier this year, a survey commissioned by wine fair Vinexpo revealed that red wine still is king in China, with 88 percent of annual total sales by volume. But as more Chinese women develop a taste for wine, white wine drinking is rising and is expected to grow by 41.7 percent by 2013.

By Courtney Rubin | Source :: Inc.com

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Lovely feather illustrations are the focus of this packaging for these wines.

Design by ILoveDust | Source :: Lovely Package

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When it comes to visiting wine country, there's the standard booze bus variety-and then there's the exclusive week-long Tuscany Wine Tour.

When you touch down in Florence, Italy, your personal chauffeur will be waiting to whisk you away in a Mercedes to the Piazza Santa Maria Novella hotel where you'll spend your first night (the boutique resort is actually a small mansion down the street from the Renaissance church of the same name down the street). On day two, you'll be driven out to the Chianti Classico region for a private tour of the Badia a Coltibuono property, where you'll savor wine and olive oil before continuing along to another estate, ending the day at the hilltop castle in Siena for an overnight stay.

Wake up the next morning for a red wine tasting in the nearby village of Montalcino and lunch at the Poggio Antico's Michelin-spangled restaurant; you'll round out the afternoon with a stop at the hillside town of Montepulciano before heading back to your castle for the night. Days four and five bring more wine tastings, small village sightseeing and overnights at a villa-style hotel. The last day of the trip includes a visit to the medieval village of San Gimignano before returning for one final night in Florence.

The Tuscan Wine Tour sure beats the booze bus, but it's also more expensive: Trips start at 500 Euros per person, per day, for one couple. For two couples touring together, prices start at 450 Euros, airfare not included.

By Carrie Coolidge | Source :: www.luxist.com

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