Travesti: Great Story, Not-So-Great Execution

I said hey babe, come take a walk on the wild side. Let the grape decide. Wear the rosé dress or a red suit? Nothing is absolute. This ain’t no ordinary fruit. And though each vintage is subject to change, a few things remain the same. Always fresh with something floral, a flavorful wine that lets each year define if he is a she or she is a he.

I discovered this wine years ago, heard its story and fell in love. So I bought a bottle. Turns out it tastes great as well, resulting in more bottles purchased throughout the years. 

A Cinsault from Chile’s Maule Valley made by Arnaud Hereu that sometimes is a rosé, and sometimes is a red. It all depends on the year and how the grape wishes to express itself. Whether it’s going to shave its legs and then he was a she, or maybe he’ll just put on his red suit… 

C’mon, it’s a fun concept for a cheap-ish, small-production wine. Plus it’s a true story, Travesti has been a rosé and a red. 

Travesti wine

HOWEVER, if the salesman hadn’t been doing his job, I would’ve never known about this gem of a concept. The front label doesn’t really say much, and the back label literally says nothing about the wine beyond the legal requirements of origin, variety, alcohol content and producer. There’s not even generic tasting note. 

Travesti-wine-back-label

How many people have missed out on the fun? 

This is a perfect wine to take to gathering and spark at least a few minutes of banter. I say this from experience, it’s been a hit. Because again, it tastes good too. 

But the message is lost if nobody tells you about it. It’s just another red or a rosé with a peculiar name. 

When you pour energy into making good wine and then put yourself ahead of the game by giving it a good concept and story, you can’t fall short with the packaging. Go all the way — 360, baby. Don’t assume that people are going to get it…because you know what happens when you assume…

There’s no website, no social media account. Really, nothing tells this wine’s story…and that’s a shame. A lost opportunity. 

Everything needs to jive. The name and front label need to tell the story and pique interest. The back label needs to expand and seal the deal. And the juice needs to keep me coming back.

Also, Arnaud, if you ever chance upon this, give me credit on the bottle and my tasting note is yours 😉

CHEERS! 

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