Astute rosé producers understand that the colour of the wine is a major selling point. The choice of clear glass bottles is typical in the category. But several brands go above and beyond to make their packaging stand out from the competition. There are many outstanding examples on this site. Some brands screen patterns across the entire bottle. Others create intricate cut-glass designs. Then there’s LYV.
The LYV bottle is a work of art. With its angular glass cuts below the shoulder and echoing around the punt, it presents more like sculpture than packaging. It catches and reflects light in dazzling ways. For some, this will be a bottle worth keeping long after the wine is gone. The labels are easily removed, although not quite as effortlessly as those on Protea Rosé. That brilliant eco-friendly upcycling strategy earned Protea Rosé my Best Wine Label of 2023.
The shape of the LYV front label mirrors the angular cuts in the glass. It is small and restrained, carrying only the essentials. LYV is set in a sharp serif typeface, with the V interrupted by a small metallic blue dot. The name is supported by the origin information below. The word rosé also appears in metallic blue, which I find to be an odd choice. But then there’s that funky É. It doesn’t look like it’s part of the typeface. I’d guess it’s another subtle nod to the bottle’s angular theme.
LYV Rosé is produced in the south of France and is similar in style to the rosés of Provence, made from many of the same grape varieties. It’s dry and medium-bodied, with red berry flavours and a hint of minerality. One of those perfect summer sippers.
Rosé packaging works hard for attention in one of wine’s most competitive categories. The best showcase the wine’s colour while taking an extra step to create bottles that blossom on the shelf. LYV is a cut above.
