You'd better delete that

Journalist and photographer Elaine Davidson has turned her focus to exploring her Village of Naramata and surrounding area. When Elaine is not drinking wine with funny names, she is training to swim the English Channel on a relay team this July.

You’d better delete that

By Elaine Davidson

Clever marketing or quelle horreur?

Wines with funny names are cropping up all along the Naramata Bench and in the Okanagan Valley. 

A French friend once said she only buys bottles with standard labels and classy names, respecting the French tradition where the Chateaux was of prime importance. 

Deeply suspicious of the quality of a product with a name like Well La-Di-Da (Church and State), said friend felt the name was a key indicator of how seriously the winery took itself and its product.

A more recently made French friend brought the above pictured bottle to us as a gift. “Names like this would never fly in France," she says, "but this isn’t France.” 

She appreciates the more light-hearted approach, and we enjoyed a very nice glass of Carpe Diem Bitches, merci beaucoup.

A forerunner of fun names, and a well-respected Naramata winery, Therapy Vineyards has gone to town with their wines dispensed from their own Farmacy wine shop. 

Freudian Sip and Freud’s Ego are two of their world-class wines. On the doctor’s couch, I would confess to a bit of pinot envy for their naming genius.

Another winery, just a staggering distance from our house, Van Westin has gone a bit haywire with “V” names: 

Voluptuous, Vixin, Vulture and Vrankenstein are Very fun, particularly the latter, as volunteer pickers harvest the grapes at Halloween, in costume, and proceeds are donated to charity.

More ominously, Black Widow offers a very nice Phobia.

Red Eyed and White Knuckle are Monster Vineyards’ offerings. 

Tightrope sells Vertigo and Tip-Toe.

Laughing Stock sells lots of Portfolio and Blind Trust.

A short drive to Blasted Church in Okanagan Falls, and you can taste OMG, Hatfield’s Fuse, and Big Bang Theory from bottles featuring some very cool, award-winning artwork.

Misconduct’s wine tourers can decide if they prefer Misfit or The Big Take. 

Can’t decide? 

Quidni suggests, Why Not Red or Why Not White.

If you think that bubbles ramp up the fun quotient, Therapy’s solution is Fizzio Therapy. 

Too many bubbles, and you see Pink Elephants from Elephant Island. 

Ruby Blues pops your cork with Peace & Love & Bubbles.

I’m with my new delightful French friend. It’s all in good fun, and inside those cleverly-named bottles is some very nice wine. 

Oliver’s Church and State really does take the cake, though, with Oh Bloody Hell, Tonight is the Night, I’d Shave My Legs for You, and You’d Better Delete That.

I’m pretty sure they have their demographic nailed. I dare any 20 to 30 year-old to buy Oh Yeah Post This . . .  and not.

 

Links

Church and State

Therapy Vineyards

Van Westen

Black Widow Winery 

Monster Vineyards

Tightrope Winery

Laughing Stock Vineyards  

Blasted Church 

Misconduct Wine Company 

Quidni

Elephant Island 

MAP

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