Cheap Engagement Rings. So you are ready to propose – you have a great proposal idea in your head, you know exactly what you are going to say and you can’t wait to put a ring on her finger. There’s just one problem – you don’t have the ring! Money’s tight though, so you want to find a cheap engagement ring – is it possible?
First off, I never like to use the word “cheap” when describing a diamond ring. So instead of saying “cheap engagement ring”, I’m going to say “affordable engagement ring”. Just sounds nicer doesn’t it?:)
Ok, step one is to set a budget. Decide how much you want to spend on your engagement ring. And please be realistic – don’t say $56. Not gonna happen.
An engagement ring is going to set you back a few bucks. You will probably have to save up for a bit or tap into existing savings. It’s a big purchase – and an extremely important one.
So set a budget that you can afford. Many people try to spend about two months salary, but that isn’t always possible. You might have a lot of other bills that you are responsible for – it simply isn’t possible for everyone to fork out that much.
That’s fine – don’t worry about it. You can find gorgeous rings at affordable prices. It’s all about getting the most for your money.
My suggestion is to have at least $1000 to spend though. Remember that this is a ring she will wear forever. It is a sign of your committment and love for her – buying it should involve some form of sacrifice. Obviously $1000 is well below the average amount spent, but it can actually take a long ways if you know what to look for.
Go to my site and grab the Diamond Buying Guide – it will show you a ton of tricks on saving money on engagement rings. It’s amazing how many people waste money on this purchase. I’ll make sure get every last bit of your money’s worth.
First off, go for a very simple setting. And stick with 14K white or yellow gold. There is no need to spend the extra on 18K or platinum. You want the majority of your budget to go towards the diamond.
For the diamond, the key is getting the biggest size rock for your pricerange. Diamonds are graded in a number of different categories – the diamond guide I put together shows you exactly what combination to go for when you’re on a budget. Without this information you will either waste a bunch of cash or get a low quality diamond.
I hope you find that dream ring of hers and that it doesn’t break the bank! Remember, you aren’t looking for a cheap engagement ring – you are looking for an affordable engagement ring;)
Get More info and shop Cheap Engagement Ring Sets here. Happy hunting!
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Antique engagement rings are the jewelries of bygone eras that date back to more than hundred years back. These jewelry pieces are know for their simple but elegant designs with varieties of colors and engravings. Each of the eras represents a classic development in the ring manufacturing and designing. The couples opt for these rings for their classic touch.
Out of many varieties of ring jewelries available to the couples, antique engagement rings should be preferred for its symbolism of romance and classic touch of the bygone eras. There are various unique designs to choose. But you should make sure that all the necessary preparation is in place before you shop for the one.
Antique rings refer to the era that dates back to the early years of nineteenth century and up to the fourth decade of the twentieth century. This long duration can be divided into chiefly three eras, each of which represents a development of craftsmanship of the rings. You must keep the silent features of these era rings, so that the jeweler shows you the right jewelry.
If you wish to purchase antique engagement rings of Victorian era that dates back from 1835 to 1900, then know that the rings in those times were set usually in yellow or rose gold. The designs were both simple and elegant. That was also the first time when diamonds were being used in plenty, though such rings were not used on daily basis. You can find six prong diamond solitaire of this era.
The duration from 1900 to 1920 is known as Edwardian era that started the use of platinum. The jewelers crafted the jewelries in pierced and lacy shapes. You can have access to not only rose-cut diamonds but also brilliant sapphires of these days.
Antique engagement rings of comparatively modern age come from Art Deco era ranging from 1920 to 1930. This was the age when machinery was in use for making the jewelry. As a result of it, you will find that these rings are shaped to give them geometric look. You can opt for these jewelries for their Egyptian and Asian fashion trends of those times. In the later half of the era, combination of platinum and diamond was frequently used. See if these are the rings you would like to purchase for relatively modern rings with a classic touch.
Whichever era rings you may prefer, but make sure that the older stones have no internal or external cracks. Such stones should be avoided as they are damaged very easily. You should also take note of the craftsmanship of the ring and make sure that the jewelry is really from the particular era. Ensure that the jeweler is not selling you a replica ring.
For the budget couples, it is advisable to opt for antique engagement rings of 1930s to 1940s when the diamonds were set in such a way that they appeared larger than their size. This means that a larger appearing diamond is accessible at lower prices as compared to today’s prices. However, do not expect a great quality diamond and the ring from those times. The main reason of purchasing these rings should be the unique designs that are no more available.
In the end, we advise you to be aware of unscrupulous jewelers who are always looking for the customers to pass on replica rings as antique engagement rings. Better take help of some expert and purchase from the reliable shop.
Best Best Video Editing Software Here.
All the rumors have finally died down and many skeptics have tightened their lips, the video player does provide video format now on its newest generation. Video playback capabilities have made it a complete multi media equipment, but not all formats are supported just yet. So if you want to put your movie in your video player you have to make sure that they are in a supported format.
But don’t worry, you can convert your movie into the supported format so you can still upload and watch it in your media player video. The Converter media player Video is a very good video converter suitable for your video player and its needs. It offers a simple and comprehensive way on how to convert all of the popular video formats to iPod video, like transforming AVI to iPod, Mpeg to iPod and WMV to iPod. Not only that, this also features the ability to transfer audio files with WAV, MP2 etc. to iPod supported with mp3 configurations.
All the conversions procedures are very speedy and simple to do. And the product of this mp4 conversion is supported by the iPod system requirements and configurations so you can enjoy watching your favorite video, home movie, music video and whatever it is you desire on your media player.
There are numerous converters for the video player video available in the internet. The following are some of the general features of a converter video video player which all of the video player enthusiasts and fanatics should know:
1. This tool has the capacity to transfer AVI in to the video player file.
You are able to convert AVI to iPod format that is supported by the video file. There are many set ups which you can use to attain an excellent video and audio quality.
2. The software is also capable of WMV conversion
The converter iPod video is a WMV converter too that makes it possible to transfer WMV to video player.
3. It can transfer mpeg, mov, mp4 and asf file
The converter ipod video is also mpeg and mp4 converter. It has the ability to transfer mpeg file, mp4 and asf into the video player.
4. This tool also supports batch conversion
This software supports all famous formats to video player and removing audio from video and transfer it to iPod supported mp3 file format. By simply choosing the files that you want to transfer, the converter iPod video will automatically program those, regardless even if the files have a different format.
5. It is also is preview-supported
The tool allows the user to choose the start point and intervals from a whole file.
You can get high quality videos and not lose any of the quality in the process of conversion. Many of these tools are available for a free trial period and very cheap. You can check out which one would be best suitable for you and your mp4 conversion needs.
You can download AVS Video Editor Here.
If you are looking for entertainment for your reception, chances are the wedding music is a very important part of your planning. The hardest part of finding a wedding band in South Florida is choosing one that is right for your event. The best approach is to choose a company that has experience with all types of crowds.
There are many places to search for wedding entertainment. One of the best place to search is the internet. You will want to look for a company that has a high quality video demo on their site. It is important to find a wedding band in South Florida that has footage of a live event. This will ensure you will find a band with the experience to run a party the right way.
If your event will be low key, you will need to make sure you tell your planner what type of event you want. Keep in mind the guest you are inviting may desire a different style of event than you want. It important to keep your guest happy and having a good time and the right wedding entertainment is the best way to do that. Is is your special day but you want your guest to walk away saying it was the best eventthat they have ever been to. Here are a few questions you can ask to ensure getting the best wedding band in Florida ;
1. Do you have an online video demo?
2. Can you provide me with references from clients ?
3. Can you provide the type of wedding music that I want.
These questions will help you determine if they can provide the type of event that you would like. Remember, that it is your night and it is important to you that your guest are entertained in a professional manner. Be sure you mesh with the company that you choose. also make sure you go over the time line with the wedding band that you choose. Be sure they write it down or type it out and provide you with a copy. This will ensure that they will live up to any promises they have made in the planning stages of your event. You should also have them note any changes on your original contract.
There are a few things to keep in mind when discussing your time line. Be sure you plan something for the beginning of the event sometimes called the cocktail hour. This is the time that your guest are arriving. It is common to have a pianist or guitar player playing background music during this time. Your event will usually begin with a grand entrance which should be high energy. Be sure to go over the correct names of your bridal party. Next should be your first dance. Some people delay this until later but what happens if you want to dance before then?
If you would like more information please visit wedding band in Florida or wedding music.
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Things to Consider When Choosing Wine For Your Wedding
By Boutique Liquors
Wine has been served at weddings since the beginning of time. Nevertheless, tasting and choosing the Wedding Champagne for your own wedding is an important and challenging job. When planning a wedding or any important event, attending to the details can make all the difference in how memorable your special day is to you and your guests. Choosing the Wedding Champagne is an important detail–not one to be overlooked. You taste and choose the wedding food and cake ahead of time, so why not taste and choose the wine in advance, too? Don’t leave this important detail to chance. In addition to sampling the wine ahead of time, there are many other things to consider when choosing Wedding Champagne
Your Guests
What kind of Champagne do you like? How about your friends and family? Do they prefer red, white, rosé, sparkling, or a dessert wine? Would your guests enjoy one or two really nice glasses of wine to sip as they socialize? Or, is wine not that important to your guests?
Time of Day
Are you having a day or evening wedding? People may drink a little less at an afternoon wedding than at an evening affair. (I know if I drink more than a glass of wine in the afternoon, I’m ready for a nap by 7:00 p.m.)
Menu
Are you trying to pair the wine with the food? If you are serving prime rib, why not pair it with an enjoyable Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, or Merlot? Is seafood or chicken on the menu? How about pairing that meal with a Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, or Chardonnay?
Time of Year
The time of season is something to consider. The season could make a difference in what wine you decide to serve your guests–are you trying to warm them up or cool them off? If you are hosting an outdoor reception and the weather is expected to be warm, plan accordingly and serve a refreshing, lighter wine like a Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc, rather than a heavy Chardonnay. For red wine drinkers, you might offer a Grand Cru Beaujolais or a Pinot Noir. You might even consider a dry rosé. In the cold winter months, red wines may be more popular than some of the refreshing whites served in the hot summer months. Winter is a good time to consider the Cabs, Merlots, or Shiraz.
What’s Your Budget?
Since most people don’t have an unlimited budget to spend on wine, you need to consider cost. If you are bringing in your own caterer, you may have more wine choices than with an all inclusive package. However, there may be room to negotiate the wine expense up front in a package deal. Since you are about to spend thousands of dollars on a reception, you may be able to negotiate a deal on the wine if you are looking to bring in a specific wine. It’s worth a try!
Wine Temperature and Decanting
You should serve your wine at the optimal temperature. In my opinion, most white wines are served too cold and most reds and rosés are served too warm. If a white wine is allowed to warm up a bit, you can often taste more of its flavors. I prefer my rosés a little chilled and my reds at cellar temperature (58-60 degrees Fahrenheit). Reds often could use some time to decant before they are served, allowing the flavor profile and bouquet to come alive.
Glasses
Believe it or not, serving wine in a glass made for that specific grape varietal can enhance the flavor as well. Many reception places may not have different wine glasses for different types of wine, but it’s worth asking the question. It can make a big difference in the bouquet and taste of the wine.
What Wine Choices Do You Have?
Are you bringing in the wine yourself? If that is the case, then you have a lot of wine choices. Or, do you have to choose from a specific wine list? If you are interested in wine, you may already have a favorite wine or two you would like to serve at the wedding. Make your shopping easy. A good Online Liquor Store can be a great help.
Sparkling Wine for the Toast
One of the most memorable moments at the wedding reception is the toast. If you pick a “Very Good” sparkling wine or Champagne for the toast, your guests will remember the toast even more fondly. Wines do not have to break the bank to be “Very Good.” Wedding Champagne.
If You Need Assistance Selecting the Wine
If you need assistance selecting the wines for your wedding, please check out , home of the Internet’s most comprehensive wine buying guide. Ken is a trusted resource for novices and wine enthusiasts alike and Boutique Liquors has thousands of “Very Good” or better wine recommendations at value prices. With each grape varietal, you can sort by price and by rating. Boutique Liquors review wines monthly and publishes the results on the website. New wine recommendations are added daily. Our Liquor Store is a good place to start when you are looking for Wedding Champagne
If you want to learn more about Wedding Champagne or shopping at Liquor Store view these resources at Wedding Champagne or Online Liquor Store
A New Year’s Eve Champagne FAQ
When one thinks of Wedding Champagne or new years, celebration comes to mind. With a few choice facts about the bubbly stuff, you can look knowledgeable rather than just tipsy when you drain your flute. Here are a few little nuggets you can share with fellow revelers.
What exactly is Champagne?
Strictly speaking, Champagne is a sparkling wine that comes from the Champagne region of northeastern France. If it’s a bubbly wine from another region, it’s sparkling wine, not champagne. While many people use the term champagne generically for any sparkling wine, the French have maintained their legal right to call their wines champagne for over a century. The Treaty of Madrid, signed in 1891 established this rule, and the Treaty of Versailles reaffirmed it. The french protect their national treasure.
How is Champagne made?
Sparkling wines can be made in a variety of ways, but traditional champagne comes to life by a process called the methode Champenoise. Champagne elevates the simple wine into something magical. The grapes are harvested, pressed, and allowed to undergo a primary fermentation. The acidic results of this process are then blended and bottled with a bit of yeast and sugar so it can undergo a secondary fermentation in the bottle. (It’s this secondary fermentation that gives champagne its bubbles.) This new yeast starts doing its work on the sugar, and then dies and becomes what’s known as lees. The bottles are then stored horizontally so the wine can age on lees for 15 months or more. After this aging, winemakers turn the bottles upside down so the lees can settle to the bottom. Once the dead yeast has settled, producers open the bottles to remove the yeast, add a bit of sugar known as dosage to determine the sweetness of the Champagne, and slip a cork onto the bottle.
What’s so special about the Champagne region?
Several factors make the chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier grapes grown in the Champagne region particularly well suited for crafting delicious wines. The northern location makes it a bit cooler than France’s other wine-growing regions, which gives the grapes the proper acidity for sparkling wine production. The unique soil conditions make the Champagne we enjoy.
Do I have to buy champagne to get good sparkling wine?
Not at all. Although many champagnes are delightful, most the world’s wine regions make tasty sparkling wines of their own. You can find highly regarded sparkling wines from California, Spain, Italy, Australia, and other areas without shelling out big bucks for Dom Perignon. Shopping with a reputable Online Liquor Store takes the guessing away.
Speaking of Dom Perignon, who was this guy?
While the creation of Champagne has a interesting history. But Perignon, a Benedictine monk who worked as cellar master at an abbey near Epernay during the 17th and 18th centuries, did have quite an impact on the Champagne industry. In Perignon’s day, sparkling wine wasn’t a really sought-after beverage. In fact, the bubbles were considered to be something of a flaw, and early production methods made producing the wine somewhat dangerous. (Imprecise temperature controls could lead to fermentation starting again after the wine was in the bottle. If one bottle in a cellar exploded and had its cork shoot out, a chain reaction would start.) Perignon helped standardize production methods to avoid these explosions, and he also added two safety features to his wines: thicker glass bottles that better withstood pressure and rope snare that helped keep corks in place.
What’s the difference between brut and extra brut?
You’ll see these terms on Champagne labels to describe how sweet the good stuff in the bottle is. As mentioned above, a bit of sugar known as dosage is added to the bottle right before it’s corked, and these terms describe exactly how much sugar went in. Extra brut has less than six grams of sugar per liter added, while brut contains less than 15 grams of additional sugar per liter. Several other classifications exist, but drier champagnes are more common. When considering Wedding Champagne consider the price you are comfortable with. Shopping at a good Liquor Store can make things easier.
Why do athletes spray each other with Champagne after winning titles?
Throughout its history, Champagne has been a celebratory drink that’s made appearances at coronations of kings and the launching of ships. However, the bubbly-spraying throwdowns that now accompany athletic victories are a much more recent development. When Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt won the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1967, they ascended the winner’s podium with a bottle of Champagne in hand. Gurney looked down and saw team owner Carroll Shelby and Ford Motors CEO Henry Ford II standing with some journalists and decided to have a bit of fun. When Gurney sprayed the awaiting crowd a new tradition was born.
What’s Sabrage?
After the French Revolution, members of Napoleon’s cavalry decided that the normal pop-and-foam ritual of opening a bottle of champagne just wasn’t as visually impressive as it could be. They responded by popularizing a way of opening bottles using a sword. The technique, known as sabrage, involved holding a bottle at arm’s length while quickly running a saber down the bottle towards the neck. When the saber’s blade struck the glass lip just beneath the cork, the glass breaks, shooting off the cork and neck of the bottle while leaving the rest of the vessel intact. Ceremonial champagne swords are available for just this purpose, and if you can pull off this trick, you’ll be the toast of your shindig. (Be careful, though. A flying champagne cork is already you’ll-put-your-eye-out dangerous, and adding a ring of ragged broken glass to the equation doesn’t make the whole endeavor any safer.)
To learn more about Wedding Champagne or to buy at a Online Liquor Store view these resources at Wedding Champagne or Online Liquor Store
Selecting Champagne for your wedding
When it comes to choosing a Liquor Store gift there are so many avenues that you can choose to go down in finding the right gift idea for the bride and groom. Your friendly Online Liquor Store can be of great help.The thought of getting a wedding gift can be slightly stressful because you want to get something they will like, something unique that won’t be brought by others and something that is of high quality but doesn’t completely empty your wallet.
Perhaps the easiest choice for an occasion like this is purchasing a good, Wedding Champagne quality bottle of such as a Moet et Chandon and getting a presentation case or gift box to put it in. This way if anyone buys a bottle of Wedding Champagne from a Online Liquor Store, it’s something that can still be used and greatly appreciated unlike the usual dining sets or cutlery sets that are brought. Or if you really want to be extravagant and spend a little extra, Wedding Champagne or food basket will be a gift that will surprise and be accepted with a smile from the bride and groom.
The best method to go about buying Wedding Champagne present is by thinking in a unique way. For example most people will buy champagne flutes, wine glasses, photo albums, dining sets, cutlery sets, tea sets and photo frames and at the end of the day you don’t want to duplicate your gift, you want to make it special. Do something different and buy Wedding Champagne for the special day.
Make your gift memorable. The Holiday Season is officially upon us. Here comes the constant barrage of sweets at the office and the seemingly never ending parties. It’s also time to starting thinking about what gifts to give our family and friends, and even co-workers, so from now until Christmas I’ll periodically be doing posts on various products you might be interested in for yourself and/or others. Be sure to sjop at your favorite Liquor Store.
Sometimes I feel like I should just have a stash of assorted wines so I have a bottle to bring to a party at a moment’s notice. But that could get pretty expensive and not a lot of places will let you make your own case of mixed wines. Plus I’m not a wine expert so I don’t really know much past red vs white and dry vs wet.
Thankfully, the folks at Boutique Liquors are an experienced Liquor Store merchants and know that people like me enjoy wine but don’t necessarily know where to start when selecting it. Our team of wine connoisseurs tastes hundreds of wines from some of the best vineyards in the world, which are then narrowed down to only a few dozen before being presented for sale.
Boutique Liquors mission is to make it easy for us to buy premium quality wine online and have it shipped right to our doorstep. We have an excellent selection of hand-picked fine wines and wine gifts from around the world; buy a bunch of one kind or a mixed case you can get a mixed case of 6 or 12 bottles then re-order the ones you liked the most. What store would let you do that?
To learn more about buying Wedding Champagne or Wedding Champagneview our resources at Online Liquor Store or Wedding Champagne
Wedding Budget Tips – Things You Never Thought Of
Are you interested in saving money? Well of course you do. So below I have listed a few tips that you can use to save a little cash here and there. Buy Wedding Champagne and wine at a Liquor Store in bulk and have it shipped directly to the location of your wedding whether it is at a restaurant or a friend’s home. Bulk prices are about 13 percent lower than individual buys. If your heart is still set on tradition, opt for a day in the middle of the week when restaurants and locales for special events may be more likely to come down on prices.
For your rehearsal dinner have each member of your family bring their favorite dish. Substitute some of the photographers extra lights with the sunset. Instead of renting a tuxedo for the groom, wear slacks and a nice dress shirt. Pick some flowers from the local green house and tie them in bunches with velvet or satin ribbon for a fresh bouquet.
A trove of candles in various shapes and sizes but in one color can decorate an entire backyard with a romantic and inexpensive theme. Pluck flowers from a friends rose bush or garden. Use a friends nice vehicle as your get away car instead of renting a limousine.These are just a few of the many tips that will help you save some money on your wedding. These tips are a good start to save money.
Boutique Liquors stocks more than a dozen varieties of the bubbly alcoholic beverage, and Wedding Champagne all made of the same main ingredients, though only a select few are technically labeled Champagne. Champaign is the title reserved for the sparkling wines made in the Champagne region of France. French law requires wines be named for the region from which they are made and restricts other beverages made by the same process from being named with the prestigious label. The method of production is still pretty much the same. The beverages are made from a carbonated blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.The famous drink’s popularity may be its only true selling point, Foy said. The drink is better known for its pomp and circumstance rather than its substance. Most people buy (Champagne) for celebration. It’s more of a kind of dressing than it is really trying to satisfy the pallet.
For aesthetic purposes, bottles that sell for just $5 will suffice but a better tasting Champaign will be priced at more than $15. A good Champagne is dry with bubbles that don’t fizz out quickly. We also offered pointers on opening the bottle, for best results. We recommends people grip the cork and twist the bottle. When people twist the cork and hold the bottle, they run the risk of losing their grip, causing it to fly from the bottle and the Champagne to splash out. A little pop won’t hurt.
To learn more about Wedding Champagne or buying from a Liquor Store view these resources at Wedding Champagne and Online Liquor Store
New discoveries revealed.
By Boutique Liquors
Is there a celebration anywhere? You definitely can’t miss Champagne. Celebrations can be anything like winning a crucial match, getting hold of a billion dollar project, etc. Where there is celebrations, Champagne is always there. It is one of the most flexible beverage. For so many decades, Champagne is used mainly to represent happiness or joy or celebrations.
Do you want to know the origin of Champagne? It is France. French Champagnes are famous for their imprinted bottles and the traditional taste. Ensure that Champagne is spelled with a capital “C”. Why specifically capital C? It is because only these Champagnes are made from French vineyards and they are only authorized to use captivate C. If not, it means that you are just getting the normal sparkling wine. So when you Buy Wine remember these facts.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier, what are they? These are the grapes which is grown in French vineyards for preparing the traditional Champagne. You would be amazed to hear that there exists white grapes and Chardonnay belongs to this category of grapes. Remaining two types, namely, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir belongs to the category of black grapes. Looking at the label will reveal the origin of the bottle. Depending upon the flavor that your like, you can Buy Wine.
Champagne is definitely more superior than the usual sparkling wine. Be cautious when you buy Champagne as there are manufacturers who use cheaper grade of grapes to prepare Champagne. However, to know which is the best quality Champagne, you definitely should have tasted Champagne made from French vineyards.
You might have seen bubbles spew from Champagne when you open it and many buy Champagne just to see this bubble spew from it. Do you know why this happens? Carbonic acid gas is present in Champagne and when this react with the small drops of Champagne, you get bubbles. This process is referred to as the double fermentation process.
Just snatch a bottle of Champagne if you have celebrations in place. You may go to the nearest ABC stores to get Champagnes of excellent quality. The secrecy surrounding Champagne is no longer a closely guarded secret. New and exciting discoveries are made frequently. The passion for Champagne is as strong as ever. There are several places to buy Champagne and Wines. Your favorite Liquor Store or Online Liquor Store is a good place to start. There are many choices to make and either place has numerous resources to help you along the way. Liquor Stores can have their products on the shelf for a long time. When you purchase from a Liquor Store has a fast rotation of Champagne and liquors which means a fresh product. With fast shipping to your home freshness of Champagne is no longer a problem.
So when you Buy Wine or Buy Champagne remember to visit Liquor Store or Buy Wine
The New Liquor Label Phenomenon when you Buy Champagne.
People love their animals. What did come as a surprise to me is that we also love animals on our wine labels. Yes, a study released earlier this year by ACNielsen confirms that wine labels with animal images are becoming increasingly popular in this country. I felt compelled to do my own research on this topic so one evening I stopped by my Online Liquor Store to check out the Liquor selection. Sure enough I was greeted with a veritable zoo of animals on labels. There were Dancing Bulls, Leaping Horses, Black Swans, Little Penguins, Kangaroos, even a hippopotamus courtesy of Fat Bastard Wines (which is French would you believe). This very informal research confirmed that there seems to be a much larger selection of Champagne with animal labels than ever before.
Critter Labels Rule
In the wine industry these animal labels are affectionately known as “critter labels”, and the trend began back in 2001 with the introduction of the Yellow Tail brand of wines into this country from Australia. Pictured on the label is what looks like a kangaroo (but which is in fact supposed to be the yellow-footed rock wallaby). These wines had labels that looked striking, were priced very reasonably and they tasted great – so they became a runaway success. This created a new marketing area. The ACNielsen study has some hard data confirming the popularity of this new wine category. In the past three years there have been 438 new Table Wine brands that have been successfully introduced in the American market (those wines that sold more than $20,000 annually). Of these 438 new brands 77 of them featured an animal on their label, around 18 percent. Combined with existing “critter label” wines, sales reached $600 million in 2005 out of a total of just over $4 billion, based on ACNielsen sales data from supermarket point of sale purchases.
“Critter-labeled wines are on the rise, quickly gaining share in the table wine category,” said Danny Brager, vice president of ACNielsen’s Beverage Alcohol team. “The sales generated by new brands featuring a critter outperform other new table wines by more than two to one.” That’s right, taken across the board new critter-labeled wines have proven in the marketplace to be more popular. “While placing a critter on a label doesn’t guarantee success, it is important that wine makers realize that there is a segment of consumers who don’t want to have to take wine too seriously,” said Brager. “Not only are they willing to have fun with wine, they may just feel ‘good’ about an animal label presentation.” With hundreds of new wine brands being introduced each year, wine makers realize that they need to stand out from the crowd if they are to make an impression. The attention gained from these labes is amazing. The wine industry has also realized that there is an increasingly large segment of consumers who are attracted by fun labels. They want to buy a non-pretentious wine, Buy Champagne and they don’t want to pay a fortune. These are the people who walk into a Liquor Store and supermarket and have no idea what they are going to buy – they decide by looking at the labels.
Chasing the Yellow Tail
The Yellow Tail wine phenomenon is the perfect example of this. From Casella Wines, a small family-owned winery in New South Wales, Australia, Yellow Tail went from zero to the number one imported wine in the US in just two years. The first year the Casella brothers expected to sell 25,000 cases of wine here, they ended up selling 200,000 cases. That was back in 2001. In 2005 they sold 8 million cases of wine. Yellow Tail Shiraz is now the #1 selling red wine in America (not just imports but ALL red wine). In the crowded and highly competitive US wine market with over 6,500 wine brands, Yellow Tail has become the #1 wine brand, and it took just five years. Now, I realize that Yellow Tail’s success is not just because of their label. They have a great product that is reasonably priced – the Shiraz is just $6.99 – and they have a very loyal base of repeat customers. But could they have become #1 without their unique label? I don’t think so. A common problem is to just get people to try new things. With what looks like a brightly colored kangaroo on the label on a black background, it is a visually striking label. It was able to break through the clutter at the retail store with this label.
Perhaps the biggest indication of the success of Yellow Tail is the number of copycats it has spawned. Penfolds, Australia’s leading winery, was obviously disappointed in missing out on this opportunity, so they responded with the launch of the Little Penguin brand of wines. There is now a deluge of animal themed wines, so much so that ACNielsen is tracking their sales now. Despite all this new competition Yellow Tail remains the most successful wine brand in terms of total sales.
Labels are a Powerful Tool
The uniqueness of the industry has taught us many lessons. One lesson is that with a high impact label you can make inroads even in a conservative and image conscious industry such as the wine industry. Your label should be working hard for your product. It should be informational, be a sales and marketing piece, carry any necessary regulatory information, and at the same time be eye catching. If you are selling your products at a Liquor Store, then your label needs to perform well in all these areas for your product to compete with other more established brands. Your label is your sales tool. The success of Yellow Tail wines demonstrates that in any competitive industry a good label can help bring success. Of course, it doesn’t have to feature a critter, but a visually appealing and eye catching label will always help sales.
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