Wine labels, an artist's matter!

A wine label is an important source of information for each of us. Country of origin, quality, type of wine, alcohol content, producer, bottler, importer, are all information that influence our choice before we buy a wine. Not all the wineries care about a label, some did not change anything in over 45 years, while others have a new design every years. Nowadays you can see images of artist and designers: pieces of art for collectors. Obviously label design does not determine the wine's quality, even if some producers are more interested in wine design than in producing quality wines. Informations in a wine label are more important to determine what is a quality wine for us. Vintage date are very important, for example, to determine the quality of a wine. The taste and quality of the wine can change from year to year depending on the climate. Although I have been quite attracted to some of the very innovative design that marks some labels, this normally fails to attract me when I choose a wine.

One of my favourite grapes: Aglianico del Vulture

Aglianico is one of my favourite grapes. Its homeland is Basilicata, a very small and remote Italian region. This old grape was cultivated in Greece by Phoenician pioneers. The Greeks were the first to bring this grape to Southern Italy. Cultivated near the Vulture vulcano, this grape expresses extraordinary characteristics of minerality - remnants of the salts and iron unique to the volcanic terrain, perfectly absorbed by the grape. I really like "black wines" and the Aglianico is 100% "black"! Full bodied with firm tannins, high acidity: all good references for a wine that we suggest to store in a cellar for a long aging process. The best wines express hints of chocolate and black plum notes. Nothing is better than a good glass of Aglianico del Vulture paired with grilled lamb chops. Try it and let me know....!!

Let's blog on wine...

My name is David. I am the Director of Vinum Novum, a wine agency in Ottawa that prides itself in bringing new or as I like to call them "indie" wines to the Ontario market place. This blog will be a forum for exchanging ideas, thoughts, likes, dislikes, myths and dreams on wine as well as the life that surrounds it, the moments that can make a glass an unforgettable experience. Perhaps it is because wine is so intrinsically linked to history and to love and not only romantic love (although it has often played a decisive role in such circumstances), but love for the land and the bounty that it brings us.