It’s 2008. Table wine is still evil? Apparently so. Just like there are a shocking number of dog and lizard labels, the TTB database also reveals a humongous number of labels overflowing with “evil” and “sin.” They are virtually in a sumo match for who can be most evil. It’s tough to top a skull and crossbones, as in the Irish Death Ale label above. But then, it makes no claim to be pure in its evil ways, and so the Grateful Palate rises to the occasion yet again to bring us unmitigated, Pure Evil. It is a South Australia Chardonnay that is “Perfectly wrong.”
How Evil is Your Brew?
About Author
Robert C. Lehrman is the principal attorney at Lehrman Beverage Law, PLLC. Robert founded the firm in 2001 after 12 years at the Washington, DC office of a larger firm that specializes in federal and state administrative law. From 1998...... Read Full Bio
How Wicked Was Your Weekend?
In a similar vein, do you have another weekend at home with no plans, and you want to do something but you don’t know what? Alexander Valley Vineyards has a solution for you, their Wicked Weekend pack. The box contains three bottles of wine: Temptation Zinfandel, Sin Zin, and Redemption Zinfandel. The lid of the box has a skull with two wine glasses as the crossbones above “Friday Night”; the devil laughing above “Saturday Night”; and a female angel over “Sunday Night”.
They suggest starting with their Temptation Zinfandel, “Temptation Zinfandel is the perfect compliment and introduction to our trio of Zinfandels…” states the back label. The front label has a skeleton with a bottle of wine dancing with a baroque maiden. It would be implied that he was bringing her the temptation. This ties together the wine with the box’s skull and wine glass crossbones. Why not give into the temptation, and enjoy some wine.
With Friday in the past, it would be time for Saturday’s Sin Zin. This could be considered one of Alexander Valley Vineyards flagship wines, and definitely the most popular out of the three discussed here. The wine is made from Zinfandel grapes grown in the Alexander Valley and the 2005 vintage has received two gold medals in wine competitions. The front label portrays a man drinking wine out of a horn. It is referred to as “bacchanalian” on the back label, which in the ancient Roman times, were wild festivals held in honor of Bacchus (the god of wine). This accentuates the sinful nature of over indulgence, especially in something such as wine.
By Sunday, you may think that the fun is over and it is time to ask for forgiveness for your sins. Well the Wicked Weekend pack has you covered, with Redemption Zinfandel. This wine offers redemption for the temptation that inevitably leads to sin, in the form of wine. The wine is made from Zinfandel grapes grown in the Dry Creek Valley (as opposed to the Alexander Valley), which is pointed out on the back label. The front label is reminiscent of a renaissance style painting, where a man is bowing for forgiveness to what appears to be an angel, or higher deity. So in the end, redemption can be ascertained even for us sinners.
References:
http://www.avvwine.com/scripts/display_product.php?product_id=27
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacchanalian
Temptation Zinfandel: https://www.ttbonline.gov/ALFD/publicViewImage.do?id=05084002000013
Sin Zin: https://www.ttbonline.gov/ALFD/publicViewImage.do?id=03245000000199
Redemption Zin: https://www.ttbonline.gov/ALFD/publicViewImage.do?id=05081002000123