Remember the gray old days when wine was stuffy, vague, mostly served at expensive restaurants with Tuxedo-wearing French-speaking Sommeliers? No? Me neither..we’ve been too busy in the wine world getting blown away by wines from places where there shouldn’t be wine, blends that weren’t blends before and wholesome sustainable winemaking..and now? Augmented Reality wine labels!
Now, if you just came back from the moon, Augmented reality apps have changed entertainment on your phone. Forget 3D, Augmented reality puts things right where you want them; like Pokémon Go helping you catch Charmander on your front lawn or Ink Hunter, the tattoo app that helps you ‘try on’ tattoos before committing to the needle. The beauty of these apps is that they can be used to tell a story and be mind-blowingly entertaining about it.
The first in wine was 19 Crimes Wines whose labels can be viewed on the 19 Crimes Wine app … to bring its wine labels to life. Now, wait! Each label and there are many, tells very true stories of British exiles banished to Australia after trials. They would later become colonists but we’ll let the labels tell you the full story. The labels have a rustic Wild West feel to them that only adds to their intrigue.
Another is Walking Dead Wines. Just the name alone is sure to send chills down your spine. Set as a tribute to AMC’s The Walking Dead hit TV series, these wines’ labels will entertain you as much as drinking them will delight you. After this weeks midseason premiere and losing one of our favorite characters, a nice glass of Walking Dead Wine was much needed. Currently, The Last Wine Company is offering two selections from the Walking Dead Wines; the Bloody Red Blend and the Cabernet Sauvignon. Each label is viewable using the Living Labels app that’s available for download on iTunes and Google Play. Living Labels app can be used on other labels including the 19 Crimes Wines, Beringer Brothers, Chateau St Jean and Gentleman’s Collection.
The Bloody Red Blend shows a blood curling scene where Sheriff Rick Grimes bravely stares down an army of blood-hungry zombies right before they descend on each other while the living undead haunts the Cabernet Sauvignon label. It gets better, put the two bottles together, hover your phone, they fight! And it is glorious. The corks are collectible, featuring a variety of images such as barbed wire, a walker hand, and an undead head.
It would be a shame if, after all that action, the wines themselves tasted boring. True to Sonoma terroir, the Bloody Red Blend is an intensely perfumed juicy number with notes of ripe red fruit, maraschino cherries, a well rounded full body and strong tannin. The Cabernet comes in a little bolder with broad shoulders of tannin, deep and rich ripe red fruit and a delicious lingering finish. Both red wines pair nicely with a hearty meal.
We have to agree; The best thing about Augmented reality wine labels is you can get entertained while sipping on delicious, well balanced and structured wines. No more peeling off labels on an easy Sunday afternoon.
The Bloody Red Blend and Cabernet Sauvignon are now available, retailing for $18.99. Cheers!