Orange wine is an odd bird. I don’t know if that inspired the label for The Roost orange wine but it certainly seems appropriate. It is hard for consumers to understand exactly what orange wine is. Many assume it is somehow made from oranges.
If you don’t know, The colour occurs when the skins of the white grapes are left in contact with the wine during fermentation for a specified period of time. For white wine, the skins are separated before processing.
Many producers go to extremes in their packaging to make the orange connection. Some with images of oranges on their labels. Check out the Pomelado review. Others by allowing the wine to show itself in clear bottles.
The Roost chose not to follow that path. There is no indication of wine type on the front label. The bottle glass is dark. It could be red, white or rosé. Give the bottle a turn to the left to discover in handwritten text that it is orange wine, made with Frontenac Blanc grapes. This hidden identification wouldn’t fly in a typical retail setting. This wine is only sold through the winery and is labeled clearly on the shelf.
Back to the odd bird. The one illustrated on the front label truly is. It has the head of a cockatoo and the body of a man dressed to the Dickens. His hands are human but holding feathers as if attempting to fly. One foot is that of a bird. The other has a shoe on it. The creature appears to be wearing a cape of sheets, be they cloth or paper. These seem to be falling away. He carries a sword but the blade is a feather. An odd bird indeed.
The letters of the brand name Roost, though finished in gold foil, are hard to discern and placed randomly around the bird or whatever this creature is. Again, something you can get away with at the winery. It’s a one brand shop.
The Frontenac grape produces unique wine flavours. Add skin contact fermentation and…well I find it hard to describe so here are the producer’s notes. “Expect a hazy orange hue with bruised fruit, clove, thyme, mushroom, honey, musk, caramel, almond, quince, and an umami finish that keeps you coming back for more — even when you don’t know why.” I agree that the finish is memorable. Well suited for an unforgettable label.
