1996 - Red Brick Wall and Lead Pipe Cinch

This year marked our first attempt at both a red and a white variety of wine for general human consumption. Just think of it. We also used a computer to design the labels as well as preparing the type. Our two new vintages were called Red Brick Wall and Lead Pipe Cinch. The labels were produced on an old Amiga computer using software called Instant Art. I thought they did quite neat things at the time, even if now they appear to be very primitive.

Red Brick Wall

Ralph and I are fans of dry red wines. One of my favourites is the inspiration for this label. Most of the style for it was stolen from a Valpolicella bottle (after the contents had been removed for critical study). What we most admire, we poke fun at, and this our spoof on what we emulate.

Classico inferiore indeed.

Each label was lovingly hand scribbled with red pen in order to give it a bit of colour.

I can remember taking a long time trying to reproduce the Campbell logo on the Amiga computer (I was still dealing with fairly primitive technology compared with what is out there and accessible today).

The back panel story reads:

Campbell's Estate Winery... introduces a product you expect to be made from grapes, but isn't. Ralph and Colin bring to you its new GRAPE EXPECTATIONS series of fake wine beverages.

This remarkable and questionably legal blend of re-constituted catfish whiskers and hydrated furballs has the deep crimson glow and bouquet of one of the world's finest red wines...

VALPOLICELLA

but unfortunately it has absolutely no relation to that prince of beverages. for all that it'll still hit you like running full tilt into a...

RED BRICK WALL

‘Another make money scheme to pay off gambling debts.
Caveat Emptor! (Buyer Beware!)
Bottled by bootleggers.’

I particularly liked the concept of Grape Expectations.