Are Cocktail-Style Names Appropriate for Wine?
When wine professional, Ben Gordon, posted the wine list above, he said he applauded it. Others were less sure. One wrote
"It just feels a bit like it's trying to be what it is not. Perhaps starting off with the "vin du jour" and just having 2 options with a creative name could seem less overwhelming. Also I would point out that there is a potential risk of over selling and under-delivering, consumers may not read the full description, assume they are ordering a fancy cocktail with all the bells and whistles but then the simple stemmed wine glass could come as a disappointment."
Another wondered
Do you feel an average punter can relate to these terms?
The wine bar behind this list, unless I'm mistaken, is in Portland Oregon.
It looks like my kind of place. Music is clearly important
What surprises me is that wine professionals who'd have said nothing if these wines had simply been listed as Les Croisilles Gaillac and Rubaro Corduroy Pinot Noir (apart from complaining about the lack of reference to a vintage, thought that giving them cocktail-y names might confuse or deter customers.
Most wine lists confuse or deter customers. How many of them have any idea what Gaill that ac is? At least these names are fun conversation-starters that, I'm guessing, will land perectly well with people who - like me - are often as happy to have a cocktail as a glass of wine.