Grapes, Wine and Rock ’n’ Roll

Two things I love? Rock and roll and wine. Put ’em together and it’s a recipe for a great night with old records and old friends. So you can understand my excitement when I discovered wine that rock, which puts the rock into wine. More than just a label on a bottle, these wines capture something about the album or band they reference, giving you a full-spectrum taste experience. The best part? The vino’s made from sustainably farmed grapes using green power and presented in eco-friendly packaging. That wouldn’t matter much to me if it weren’t delicious. Fortunately for me and the planet, it is. Here’s the breakdown.
Grateful Dead Steal Your Face Red Wine Blend 2009
One of the worst Grateful Dead albums—Lester Bangs playfully called it “Steal Your Money”—makes for a damn fine blended wine. Aged 20 months, it’s a blend of syrah, petite sirah, zinfandel and granache. Look for black cherry, peppered bacon and vanilla notes with a caramel finish. Pop the cork on this one, slap Europe ’72 on the turntable and dance barefoot in your living room with a stray dog for maximum enjoyment. A tasty wine for lazy days.
pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Never been a big Floyd fan, but that didn’t prevent me from enjoying this wine, which just happens to be one of my preferred varieties. A fruity wine, mostly black currant and cherry, it also has cedar notes and hints of vanilla. Very rounded and plush, it’s the one to break out on the night that you have a wine snob over. Enjoy responsibly on a chilly fall evening in your favorite sweater.

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Forty Licks Merlot’s finish is every bit as spicy as Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on a weekend bender in 1971…

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Woodstock Chardonnay 2010
If you ask anyone who was alive in the ’60s if they were at Woodstock, they invariably say “yes.” This means that there were approximately 10 million people there. But you know what they say about the ’60s: If you can remember it, you weren’t there. This highly aromatic chardonnay brings to mind a fruit cocktail in wine form. You’ll taste pear, banana, citrus and assorted tropical fruits while imbibing this one.
Police Synchronicity Red Wine Blend 2008
This is the album that really made The Police superstars—as well as respected musicians outside of their niche. The wine named after the album combines petite sirah, syrah, zinfandel, Grenache, petit verdot and vlongier. Toffee, green tea, rose petal and blackberry aromatic notes will have your mouth watering before you take a sip. When you do, you’ll notice a lot of oak, chocolate and blackberry. Great for dinner parties and reminiscing about college.
The Rolling Stones Forty Licks Merlot 2009
What can be said about these guys that hasn’t already? Few outfits could bill themselves as “The Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World” without seeming grandiose, but The Stones can. This is a highly complex merlot, containing spicy flavor notes of cinnamon, cherries, raspberry and strawberry. The finish is every bit as spicy as Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on a weekend bender in 1971. OK, maybe not quite that spicy, but damn close.