Christmas comes and invariably something comes in the door that makes me go, huh? This year's contender is a "signed" bottle of 2003 Mirassou Pinot Noir. I mean I wasn't going to hold on to this puppy and doubt if some gold paint on the bottle is going to impress me. But what is the deal with signing bottles? Is this some Wharton School MBA thesis or other great scheme to create value where little was to be had?
Quizzically ruminating while awaiting the bird.
"jcoulter" in news:Xns95CA94284F44E225stellar@216.196.97.136...
Hard to judge the book by the cover, I agree. Yet, vast resources are spent on crafting wine labels today in crowded markets, because that is exactly what many consumers do. If they do not have time to learn about wines, yet still wish to choose them, many will go for label art, as some wineries have learned to their profit.
There are also firms that will make up personalized wine labels for people who prefer to see their own name on the bottles that they give to their friends. While that might be potentially vain (like so very many of the license plates one sees in silicon valley, for example), it could also show modesty and nerve. Imagine taking a great wine of the world, one whose quality and subtlety will bring tears to the eyes of any wine enthusiast, and re-labeling it generically as a gift from you. There would be a chance for someone to experience the pure substance of the wine experience, without the baggage that so often goes with it and gets in the way.
Reflecting while anticipating the Cannelloni.
Didn't you know that the wine tastes better when it comes in a signed bottle (vbg)?
As a (casual) label collector, I will often buy a bottle of wine solely for the label -- especially some local oddity that I see as I travel around -- a good example would be the Bully Hill wines from New York state. I usually don't have any high expectations of the quality of the wine...
As an amateur winemaker, I use my collection of labels as a resource in creating labels for my own wines.
Bart
I've had some bottles signed since it can't hurt IMO. Eg, Piero Antinori was here in Toronto a few months ago, signing bottles at a wine store. So, I brought a bottle of all my Antinori wines, 6 different wines in all, and he was gracious enough to sign them all. Plus I met Piero Antinori. Plus I met some other fellow collectores and traded some nice stories. And when I eventually drink these bottles, they'll look nice in the cellar. Having said all that, I wouldn't travel to a winery to get a bottle signed or something like that.
As to adding value, well I was considering donating a couple signed bottles of Tignanello and was having them appraised. I told the appraiser they are signed by Piero Antinori. He said "Is he dead?" I said "No, he just signed them." "Then it doesn't change the value."
Peter
Gee, another gimmick to woo collectors out of their hard earned currency.
For the record I have bottles autographed by Robert Parker, Bruno Ceretto, Alfredo Currado(Vietti) and Giuseppe Quintarelli(a 1961!). There's hasn't been any thing left in these bottles for over 20 years. Should I put them on E-BAY or use them in lieu of a toll on the Brooklyn Bridge?
in article Xns95CA94284F44E225stellar@216.196.97.136, jcoulter at snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net wrote on 12/25/04 11:33 AM:
I have a couple of bottles signed by Dave Rafanelli on my birthday last year. The wines of A. Rafanelli (Sonoma-USA) are good enough, however, that the bottles are a keepsake with sentimental 'value'. I don't think Dave's sig will add to their intrinsic value. :o)
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