wine bottles

Basso & Brooke Peps Up Turning Leaf Wine

Filed under: Wine

Gallo's Turning Leaf isn't the most exciting wine brand out there and certainly doesn't have the most exciting label design but that is about to change with a little makeover from British fashion designers Basso & Brooke. The pair are famous for their use of bright colors like the ones in the designs above and they will serve as "designers in residence" for Turning Leaf.

The Financial Times reports that the pair will create a wrapping for 2,000 bottles, a blog, limited-edition umbrellas and a retail installation for a London department store. Chris Brooke recently toured Gallo vineyards in Healdsburg, California where he showed off the bottle in its colorful sleeve and went through a tasting of the six Turning Leaf blends. The exuberantly colored sleeve which looks much like the dress above is a bit at odds with the Turning Leaf label which remains the same but at least the flashy new outfit might catch a few eyes on the wine shelf.

Tags: basso and brooke, basso brooke, gallo, turning leaf, wine bottles

Big Wine Bottles Make Beautiful Lights

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Wine

Here at Luxist we love big wine bottles and here's a new way to use them. NapaStyle is selling oversized wine bottles recast as hurricane lamps. The bottles are designed to fit over pillar candles up to 5" in diameter. The sizes range from 14-20" in height. The bottle prices range from $99 - $249. They can be used indoors but might be nice for the outdoors because the wine bottles offer the candles some protection from the elements.

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Tags: candles, decor, wine bottles, WineBottles

How Long Does Wine Keep After It's Been Opened?

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

It's a question that's been tossed around for centuries, since the first cork was popped: How long does wine keep once it's been opened?

As with all things wine, it depends on many factors. Red wine, white wine, young wine, old wine, the list goes on. Oxidation is both a friend and an enemy. A freshly opened bottle often benefits from sitting open for a few minutes before serving in order to allow the oxygen to seep in and bring out the flavors and aromas in their full-bodied glory, but too much time exposed to the air and all those wonderful characteristics start to slowly turn unpleasant and eventually the wine will be dull, sour, and not nearly as fragrant. It's a slow process and it really comes down to personal taste, because no matter how long an opened bottle sits it won't become unsafe to drink -- just unpleasant.

The quick, very general answer on how long an opened bottle of wine keeps is 3 days. All wines will keep at least one day without changing for the worst, and many aged reds can last up to a week. Factors to keep in mind:

The age of the wine The longer the wine was aged the longer it will retain its desirable characteristics after being opened. Young wine is more susceptible to the effects of oxidation.
How much is left The fuller the bottle the longer the wine will last, due to less room for oxygen. Consider transferring leftovers into a smaller bottle
Sugar and alcohol content Sugar and alcohol act as preservatives so dessert wines, ports, and sherries can keep much longer (up to a year in some cases).

When it doubt smell it and taste it. If you like it drink it! If you don't, either discard it or find another use for it. There are no hard and fast rules so make your own.

Tags: main-pedia, wine, wine bottles, wine storage, wine tasting, wine-pedia, WineBottles, WineStorage, WineTasting

Jefferson Bottles Lawsuit Tossed Out

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Auctions

Another twist in the Thomas Jefferson wine bottles case, or rather the alleged Jefferson bottles wine case. Decanter reports that a federal judge in New York City has dismissed wine collector William Koch's fraud lawsuit against the German dealer Hardy Rodenstock. The judge dismissed the case saying that the court lacked 'personal jurisdiction' over the defendant. Koch, who also has at least one other lawsuit regarding wine fraud in the works, isn;t ready to give up yet. His spokesperson has said that Koch will strengthen his suit's jurisdiction argument and refile. Rodenstock, a wine dealer, has been accused of fraud by saying that the bottles of old Bordeaux which Koch bought belonged to Jefferson. In the lawsuit Koch said he relied on Rodenstock's information on provenance. Koch also says that Rodenstock may have played a role in engraving the initials ' Th.J.' on the bottles.

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Tags: hardy rodenstock, jefferson bottles, william koch, WilliamKoch, wine bottles, WineBottles

William Koch Alleges Another Wine Fraud

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Auctions

I just mentioned him yesterday and now William Koch, the deep-pocketed wine collector who made news earlier this year when he sued German collector Hardy Rodenstock over wines owned by Thomas Jefferson that proved to be counterfeit, is on the warpath again. The Wall Street Journal reports that Koch filed a lawsuit in New York City in regards to a 2005 Zachys auction where he spent $3.7 million on what he thought were rare Bordeaux wines but later turned out to be fake. He says he was led to buy the wine by the collector, Eric Greenberg, who allegedly knew that some of the bottles were fakes because he had already commissioned the head of Christie's wine department and another wine expert to check them out. The suit also says that Greenberg himself had received a settlement from the wine merchant who had sold him the wines. The lawsuit doesn't says that Zachys knew the wine was counterfeit.

Decanter also reports that Eric Greenberg was the consignor behind Acker Merrall & Condit's recent "The Man With the Golden Cellar" auction which brought in $15,563,359. Greenberg's lawyer says the lawsuit charges are false and the Greenberg would never sell wine he knew to be counterfeit. Still, the buyers from that most recent auction have to be a bit unnerved.

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Tags: counterfeit wine, CounterfeitWine, lawsuit, william koch, WilliamKoch, wine, wine bottles, wine fraud, zachys

Colorblock Hanging Light

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Some great reasons to drink more wine, if you were looking for some, are these Colorblock Hanging Lights. Designed and made by Jerry Kott of recycled wine bottles (he cuts them apart, puts them back together, and polishes them) they're bright without being obnoxious, stylish, functional, and good for the environment because they're made of recycled materials -- what else can you ask for in a lighting fixture? Each hanging lamp measures 17"Hx3"W, is priced according to the number of color blocks, and is custom made to order. $190-$310

Via Design Mind

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Tags: colorblock, colorblock hanging light, ColorblockHangingLight, hanging, jerry kott, JerryKott, kott, lamp, light, lighting, pendant, recycle, recycled, wine, wine bottle, wine bottles, WineBottle, WineBottles

Mauviel Copper Champagne Bowl

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Is it already time to start thinking about holiday entertaining? It must be, since retailers are well on their way through fall and into winter goods. The Mauviel Copper Champagne Bowl would make a fantastic presentation at just about any party from now through New Year's. It is a 15 3/4"x8" unlined copper bowl that is meant to be used to chill bottles of champagne or wine for serving. The outside of the bowl, as well as the base, is finished with a clear, protective varnish to preserve the shine of the copper and the bronze handles on either end make it easy to transport. The bowl can hold up to 6 bottles of wine with ease. Price: $299.