Celebration

Celebrated finding the dates again, as noticed as reference 1, by taking a drop of Sauvignon Blanc at the Rifleman, it happening to be open when I went past. The place opposite the one and only strip club in Epsom (which was not open, it not being during silent hours).

There were two varieties on offer, and I chose the one described as fruity, which was fine. And appropriately, it came in a bottle which had won a prize for its packaging last year from some packaging trade association. I quote from reference 2: 'Printed by Reflex Label Plus, the label for The Pass New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough was designed in conjunction with Greene King to sit at the back of bar with craft beers, ciders and spirits. The label had to be readable and recognised from three metres away, at a crucial distance and time when customers are often making their buying decisions on whether or not to have beer, cider, or a bottle of wine. The label was designed in a brutalist style, influenced by the packaging used by many craft ciders and beer producers. The simple and bold design was softened with glitter foil, giving a strong appeal to both male and female consumers ...'. So, as it happens, from the same part of New Zealand as the Villa Maria which we learned of from Wetherspoon's (Tooting branch) and which we buy from Majestic.

One can only suppose that, from a distance, Marlborough looks rather like the Saudi oil refinery that has been in the news recently.

Note the fake barrel on which the two bottles have been snapped; fake in the sense that is only a half barrel. My guess would be that it was made like that, the demand for fakes being strong enough that it is not worth going to the bother of sawing a real one in half - which would be a bit of a bother given the mix of hoop and stave to cut through.

Reference 1: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2019/09/trolley-297.html.

Reference 2: https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2018/11/greene-king-sauvignon-label-scoops-packaging-award/.

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