TMRZoo.com, Monday, August 4, 2008 — Devoted Cabernet Sauvignon consumers and fans of great music are the target of a new Cabernet-centric wine brand called B Side, introduced today by Don Sebastiani & Sons International Wine Negociants.
The Cabernets offered under the B Side label will be sourced from lesser known areas within premier appellations that have established a reputation for growing world-class Bordeaux varietals, according to Donny Sebastiani, marketing director for Don & Sons.
“Back in the days of vinyl, and later cassette tapes, fans discovered some of the most timeless musical treasures on the flip side, or the B Side of their favorite album,” Sebastiani said. “Likewise, some of the very best wines come from vineyards off the beaten path — the B side of the appellations”.
The first B Side Cabernet Sauvignon to be released is a 2005 vintage featuring grapes grown on the eastern slopes of Napa Valley. Nestled in rural, rolling hills, these vineyards are just a few miles away from the high-priced glamour wineries featured along Highway 29.
“The wine features the hallmarks of an excellent Napa Cabernet,” said winemaker Richard Bruno. “It’s full of blackberry, currant and cedar flavors and has very firm tannins. It’s great now, but will drink even better after it’s been cellared for a couple of years.”
According to ACNielsen and the Wine Market Council, Cabernet Sauvignon is the second most popular wine varietal (preferred by 14.1% of wine consumers) and is growing far faster than Chardonnay and Merlot. “We have access to tremendous Cabernet fruit, and we looked at this as a real opportunity to make a single varietal marketing statement,” Sebastiani said.
The B Side label was designed in-house by senior design manager Chris Villalovoz, and features an old-style music cassette with scads of tape strewn about. “I wanted the strong graphic shape of the tape to contrast the reserved, classic typography on the label, much like ‘B Side’ releases often contrasted the mainstream ‘A side’ songs. Though it originally was intended to be a cassette tape, I like to think of it more as the image of recording tape, in a studio where the musicians actually laid down their ‘B Side’ tracks.”
B Side Cabernet Sauvignons will be offered in very small lots at price points from $20 to $30 a bottle. The wine will be marketed through the Three Loose Screws division of Don & Sons. B Side distribution will be focused on upscale urban restaurants and key independent retailers.
