Get your fill of funny wine names! Then go to the store and buy wine with funny wine names… Because it’s fun and in some cases, quite tasty ; )
Funny Wine Names
From the rudest to the most absurd, from the unorthodox to the conventional, wine names have been a lot more creative and inspired than in the past. Some of them still carry the winemaker’s family name, the name of the château or domain, or even a poetic reference to the wine itself. This naming convention has certain merits but newcomers have adopted a more modern method… We call it Funny Wine Names!
Established or new winemakers have one thing in common: they all want to sell their wine. Regardless of the wine quality, the first step is to promote it and put it in front of the consumer with the help of various advertising techniques. There’s always the hope that the wine will go “viral” with the help of social networks and “bouche à oreille”, more commonly known as word of mouth. One sure way to help this strategy is to provoke and intrigue the consumer by coming up with some creative and funny wine names… like Fat Bastard. Who in their right mind would call a wine Fat Bastard? Now that’s overly silly and immature, don’t you think? Or maybe not… Let’s PONDER!
Fat Bastard is described as a “decent wine from the south of France with a cute little hippo that conveys the idea of a rich, full-bodied wine.” The people responsible for this wine are Thierry Boudinaud, a renowned winemaker, and his friend, Guy Anderson. Guy is a rebel in the wine industry believing that quality is paramount in a wine but that the average consumer hates the traditional intimidation placed by the wine industry. One day, Thierry had Guy try an experimental wine he had in a few barrels in the back of the cellar. It had a wonderful color and rich, round palate. Both men stood there in silence until Thierry exclaimed with his strong French accent “Now zat iz what you call eh phet bast-ard!” Both friends agreed that the wine was amazing and they could not withhold it from the public. When it came to name the wine, they naturally picked the expression triggered while tasting it.
It’s an absurd name — almost juvenile – but attention-getting and memorable. Some people undoubtedly criticized this highly controversial name. Yet, it worked beautifully… In just six years, it became an international success, selling hundreds of thousands of cases despite a few states’ aversion. In fact, the brand was described by BusinessWeek as a “marketing phenomenon.” The public on both sides on the pond loved the wine.
Imagine looking along a wine shelf. There’s Château THIS and Château THAT — and then, most unexpectedly, you come across a bottle of Fat Bastard! (Cue the vinyl scratch sound.) Most people bought a bottle because of the name, and came back to buy more because of the quality.
Fat Bastard is only one of a few hundreds that took a risk and chose a name that won’t go unnoticed. Other funny wine names are:
• Bitch, Sassy Bitch, Mad Housewife, Mommy’s Time Out, Middle Sister
• Folies à Deux, Ménage à Trois, Fourplay, Big Pecker, Ball Buster
• Big Ass Cab, Horse’s Ass
• Toasted Head, Gnarly Head, Plungerhead
• Fish Eye, Arrogant Frog, Goats Do Roam
• Barefoot, French Maid, Bohemian Highway
• Red Guitar, Pinot Evil, Running With Scissors
• Marylin Merlot and the Naked Grape, Merge’nTina, Bearitage
The list really is endless and some are even less conventional as those listed above.
This funny radio commercial produced for major wine retailer Total Wine & More by World Wide Wadio (a successful and creative post-production company in Hollywood, CA.) shows the vast variety of wine names that are currently in use.
A similar concept has been replicated in this TV commercial for the same wine merchant.
Funny wine names
There’s always a story behind them. Let’s not judge wine based on its title. We all must remember to stay open-minded because what matters most is not the outside but the inside :)
Related Wine Ponder articles:
• Creative and Unusual Wine Labels
• Fun Wine Labels
• Understanding a Wine Label
• Wine Label Clichés
I’ve bought a wine a few times before because of the name alone – and even more times because of the label.
I love that series of commercials for Total Wine & More. Super cute and clever! Did WWW do all of those?
Yes, Wadio produced those commercials. They are awesome!
FYI – I am writing another article on Wine Label Designs… Stay tuned :)
Can you do an article on cute wine corks!!
That is an interesting idea, Caroll! I will definitely keep that in mind for future publications. Thanks ;)
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I’m looking for a story using interesting wine label names that I could read to my dad as I give the bottles of wine to him as a gift. I’m wanting an entertaining story that is appropriate for a daughter to read to her dad in front of family, and I’m having a difficult time coming up with it on my own. Thanks!
That’s a very clever idea but challenging indeed ; )
My advice to you would be to keep the story personal, maybe it’s a story of you when you were a little girl (something that your dad would remember). Another advice: use metaphors. Wine names can be extremely creative, making it a bit difficult to insert in a “real” story. If you use them as metaphors throughout the entire story, perhaps to replace the main characters, it might be easier. You should go to the Total Wine & More website and peruse through their list of wines. They have quite an extensive list and this might just give you some ideas. If you’re stuck and looking for more specific names or categories, don’t hesitate to contact me again.
It is such a thoughtful gift for your Dad. You have to finish it. He will love it! Please let me know how it goes and don’t hesitate to send me what you come up with!
Here is the link:
http://www.totalwine.com/eng/categories/wine
Have fun ; )
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I didn’t know WWW did press for Total Wine – I’m Totally impressed!
As a total coincidence, WWW does the radio spots for Total Wine. It has nothing to do with Wine Ponder.
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My boyfriend bought an Italian Red Blend called “If You See Kay”. The label art was what caught his attention and got him to make the purchase, but the wine was wonderful. We bought a case at Christmas to give to friends who we knew would get a laugh upon opening the package and a pleasant surprise upon opening the bottle. :-)
You see… That’s exactly what I’m talking about. The winery is using a fun and unusual label design along with a clever name that calls for the consumer’s interaction, a sort of call-to-action. If the consumer is feeling amused, he will be more likely to take parts in the fun, buy a few bottles and share them with friends, which is exactly what you and your boyfriend did ; )
Thanks for stopping by our humble site, Corrina!
Zif and Dale two of Disney’s Gay couples who ride the Mickey Mose train only on a Sunday.
Guessing it’s a Zinfandel ;) I like that!
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