In the span of a few shelves at the wine store, I found inspiration for a Vine Designs post: Three wines bearing labels that spoke to my punk and rock heart. Punkers used their bodies as a way to express their distaste for all things establishment, be it through fashion, hair, accessories or tattoos, and here were labels reminiscent of those days.
To get you in the mood, too, pour yourself a glass and listen to UB40’s cover of “Red, Red Wine” first (thanks to my blogging sistahs Renovation Therapy and Willits Photo Overflow):
RAW POWER
Beginning in the mid Seventies, the safety pin became one of the essential punk accessories. Torn jeans? Safety pins. Bracelet? Safety pins hooked together. Earring? Patches? You guessed it. The safety pin represented that gritty, underground, rebellious, working class, anarchic ethos. In an article titled “Safety Pin as Signifier,” in of all places, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Scott McLemee writes:
In the summer of 1977, Time and Newsweek informed their readers of a new subculture, called “punk,” that had emerged at a few rock clubs in the United States and Britain. It was a style of exuberant ugliness. Men and women alike wore short hair that had been cut seemingly at random, and dyed unnatural colors. Flesh was pierced in sundry locations, at times with safety pins. Punk bands had names like the Dead Boys or the Clash. The music was very loud, very fast, and seldom involved more than three chords. Dancing was spasmodic. Spitting was common.
I was pleased to read that the creator of this wine was not a punk pretender, but a real punker. Vocalist Rawley Power was the frontman for the Aussie punk band, “Anti-Power,” some 20 years ago. (I looked for any audio/video of the band online, but alas, no luck. Must’ve been a regional phenom) Raw Power shiraz is bottled by Old Plains Wine Co., based in South Australia. The grapes are grown on vines ranging in age from 12 to 45 years in Adelaide Plains.
If you’re looking for a wine to bring to your 25th or 30th reunion and want to show you’ve still got that edge, buy one of these. Your mates won’t be disappointed. Of course, for some funny nostalgia, you could bring some nasty wine coolers, introduced around 1981:
Big Tattoo Red
Big Tattoo Red Cabernet-Syrah 2006
This bottle had a little pink ribbon around the neck, a tip off that it was more than just a nod to getting inked. Two brothers, Alex, a wine importer, and Erik, a tattoo artist, teamed up to start a wine in honor of their mom, Liliana S. Bartholomaus, who died in 2000 of cancer. A portion of the sales of Big Tattoo Wines (50 cents per bottle sold) goes to breast cancer research and hospice care in about 35 states and District of Columbia. (Distributors in each area have made matching donations from bottles sold as well.) Since 2002, they’ve donated more than $1.2 million.
Liliana’s favorite symbol was the fleur de lys, hence the label’s graphic designed by Erik, a New Mexico-based tattoo artist.
I enjoyed this syrah (50%) and cabernet sauvignon (50%) blend made from Chilean grapes.
Vintage Ink
Vintage Ink Red Wine
I had to do quite the Sherlock Holmes shtick on this one. I came up with practically nada online, except for some indications that the wine had some ties to a big company that produces Robert Mondavi, Simi, Estancia and other wines. I contacted the winemaker, aka conglomerate, Icon Estates. The rep told me via e-mail this wine is only available at the H. E. Butt Grocery Store chain in Texas. I tried to get more info about this wine and reason for its really limited distribution, but have not heard back. Meanwhile, I bought a bottle in Massachusetts. I noticed the wine’s year–2005, not 2008–when I got home. (Note to self: adjust eyeglasses)
Icon’s web site is being overhauled and its new site is supposed to debut next month. Good thing because I found the current site frustrating!
My bottle Vintage Ink Red Wine, was a merlot-cabernet blend. It wasn’t memorable, alas. But that’s OK, right? My readers in Texas are the only ones who have access. If you live in Texas and buy a bottle, please let us know what you think.
The Chronicle of Higher Ed article mentions one of my favorite bands, The Clash. I’ll leave you with this classic:
Vine Designs 