One of the most effective methods of making wine accessible is through the use of effective labeling. In contrast with the complex and technical labels that grace many a bottle from various parts of Europe with strict label laws, the labels of some other wines are designed to be straightforward and easy to understand. Certain labels use humor to pique the interest of potential buyers.

I recently discovered one such delight while on a trip to my local wine store. The front label shows a depiction of the Three Wise Monkeys (“See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil”) and a memorable brand name: Pinot Evil. Of course I picked it up right away.

Pinot Noir is among the oldest grapes cultivated for winemaking, going back to the first century. The Romans knew the varietal as Helvenacia Minor. Most of us today know of it because of the success that the French have had with it in the region of Burgundy. The grape is susceptible to a huge number of environmental factors and what might create little difficulty for some varietals can be disastrous for Pinot Noir. Many who have tried to grow it in California have declared it too difficult or have at least questioned whether it is worth the trouble. The back label of Pinot Evil goes so far as to say that many view the grape as “possessed if not downright evil.”

My bottle of Pinot Evil Reserve 2004 was $18.99, a price at which I expect to get a good bottle of wine. I was in no way disappointed; it is very smooth, easy to drink, and is fruity on the palate. It paired quite nicely with my salmon and I'm sure will be perfectly enjoyable even on its own.

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil. Pinot Evil indeed.