Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Visual treat

Yes, this is going to be a visual treat for those who like to drink.


Had been to this liquor store in Colorado, with my friends. This is supposed to be the largest liquor store in Colorado and has been there for almost half a decade.
While my friends were picking up their bottles, I took a stroll around the store. I was fascinated by the colourful labels that some of the bottles had.   


Designing a label (especially for a bottle) requires ingenuity.  For example this one of Skinny Girl has four varieties, and the one which says “Island Coconut” makes it look like as if half a coconut is inside the bottle.


The shape and the size of the bottle too have to match the name, when you compare this with the Livingston.


This Momo Kawa reminded me of my school days when I used to come home with ink sprays on my uniform almost everyday to the exasperation of my mother.


The collection of bottles here is from all over the world. Like the Vieux Telegraphe  which is from France


The label of Alice White makes it obvious that it is from Australia


More from Australia




I like this simple sketch and the colour scheme used for these Red Wine bottles (they are from north eastern Spain)


Cono Sur from Chile – the bicycle represents their spirit of innovation, passion, commitment and respect for environment.


Maybe M F Hussein could have thrown some light about the drawing on the label of Lagar.  


Like this simple design of the Wine from Germany (Riesling) Wonder what that conch is doing at the top. 


This bottle has a painting by the famous artist Gaby Hahn. 


This Pinot Grigio is made from grapes hand selected from some of the best sites along the Italian border in Slovenia. 



A Chianti wine is produced in the Chianti region in central Tuscany. 


The Ladoucette family have been producing wines for over 600 years in their 165 hectare estate of Chateau di Nozet in Pouilly (France) 


What a unique way to name a brand. Seven Daughters is a blend of seven carefully chosen grape varieties, crafted together into a sophisticated yet fun wine. 


Flame Thrower will attract any one’s attention. Schnapps is a term that refers to any kind of strong alcoholic beverage. The English “schnapps” is derived from the German Schnaps. 



Liqueurs are a class apart. What a way to seal a bottle. Reminds me of the good old Post Office and their seal and the sealing wax. 






This Hazelnut Liqueur has a story. According to legend Frangelico lived three centuries ago in a hilly area bound by the river Po. He lived as a hermit and through his love of nature and knowledge of its secrets, created unique recipes for liqueurs. The most precious one of all was one of liqueur made from wild hazelnuts with infusions of berries and flowers to enrich the flavour.
Well, the shape of the bottle looks convincing which includes the Cincture around the waist. (Brother Juniper?)


Another one from Ireland, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream Liqueur.


Like this container of Corn Whisky 


Are these mugs for the Moscow Mule? I don’t know but these copper mugs are a familiar sight in pubs. The christening of the Moscow Mule is an interesting story as per Wikipedia 



This may look like some fancy stuff but these Vinocopia Wines has developed a barrel in which you can store your wine. So when guests arrive, you can fill their glass from a tap. Ever wondered how the wine is stored in this wooden barrel?


OK, all this is coming from a teetotaler, so you may have to verify the authenticity of all what I said above.
Cheers J  




Saturday, March 2, 2013

Realistic paintings


Stumbled upon these wonderful paintings.

These were from the collections of Carlo Vinci. The site says that these photographs were among his prized possessions. They are from the turn of the century reproductions of the paintings of Eduard von Gruntzner who was born in 1846. I wonder if you noticed the one common factor in all the characters of these paintings.

The family of Carlo Vinci isn’t quite sure where Vinci obtained these photographs. But he was crazy about them because of its realistic nature.

I too was looking at each of these paintings and was in awe of Eduard’s eye for details.

For example the one below has this monk holding the candle light stand in his left hand, something that he will require once he goes to the cellar below, and there is something hanging from that stand, probably a scissor to cut off the extra wick? The one with the walking stick is perhaps trying to cajole him to get some extra  wine to his room.  The walking stick has a tip at the end, probably to reduce wear and tear of the wooden stick? The one behind could be hard of hearing. 




And this one here. At first glance it may look like a barber shop, but on closer look we realize it’s one of the rooms in the Abbey (the photographs, the crucifix  etc indicate that) where the barber comes for his “visit” and the monks wait for their turn to be shaved. Each one gets his own towel to be used as a bib. The monk on the right has finished being shaved and wiping his face after having a wash in the basin which is visible. I am just wondering why that jug is placed so high on a shelf where no one can reach easily? One monk is being shaved while another one is lathered and waiting so that the lather will soak in, the third one is waiting with his “bib” in place.

The one standing behind is probably showing the nick he got last time.



A little bit of cheating in a game of cards.  I like the way these three legged stools are converted to chairs by wedging in those carved wood as the backrest. They may look crude, but they are sure to be steady. If you see the chair missing for the person on the right, its probably because he is sitting on the protruding ledge of the wall.



In the Dominican cellar - The monk in the forefront, his body stance-bend slightly backwards and a little to his right (with his right hand fully extended) shows that the jar is full and heavy.

The monk on the ladder, probably checking the clarity of the wine in the goblet against the candle light.



A rare tidbit – The hunter with his “kill” probably trying to show off, or may be haggling with some eating joint to buy his wild boar. The erect stance of the hunter and the bowed position of the one behind him indicates the master servant relationship between both?  The hunting dog is really curious about the “snuff” that one of them is about to use. 



The temptation



This is the only painting in which I don’t find the painter’s signature, or am I missing it?




No wonder Vinci considered them as his prized possession.

I found them in the net at this location (click here)




Oh yes the common factor – all the characters in all these paintings are smiling.