When I was younger, a friend of my parents told me that it was ok to chose a wine based on being attracted to its label. His reasoning was that like with design, people with similar aesthetics tend to like similar thing, and that such attraction translated well to taste buds. Now that I am older, I have to admit that most of the times this is how I choose my wines, and so far it has worked pretty well for me.
I know that this isn't the best way to choose wines, but considering that in my home even my toothbrush matches my bathroom's color palette, I find it very difficult to purchase a bottle of wine with an ugly label. Furthermore, a beautiful wine label will accentuate your table, and home decor.
Here is a sampling of five wine labels that I find beautiful:
The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
It's been my (secret) method for years -- and I've rarely been disappointed!
I do the same thing!
I do the opposite! If it has a label that looks too appealing, I figure it's crappy wine. Especially ones with the catchy names!
@ HeartsAndCrafts. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised if you try wines with nicely designed labels. Chances are, if the wine maker puts a lot of care and consideration into what the label looks like, they will more than likely do the same with the wine.
Molly Dooker from Australia and Bonny Doon from Santa Cruz CA are two good examples of quality wines with great labels.
http://www.mollydookerwines.com/web/index.cfm
https://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/
Bonny Doon has always been clever Randall Grahm is a clever and funny guy.
For the most part I tend to stay away wine with these kinds of labels unless I know something about the wine and wine maker.
If I'm looking for a new wine, the label is always what gets me to buy. :) Same goes, I'm afraid to say, for books. I'm happy to report that I have had very few instances where I wasn't completely satisfied with the wine or the book!
you sell a soft-drink with a catching label, you sell a wine with a good content.
I am a certified sommlier that presently works in a wine bar in Atlanta. As a HUGE wine snob, this disheartens me. In fact, the opposite is often true. Although exceptions occur to every rule, generally wineries that rely heavily on the label do so because the wine inside is sub-par. Wineries often dump the "other" wine - that is, the wine not good enough to make the cut - into brightly packaged, eye-catching bottles so people who don't know any better will buy it.
And sadly, wine that they would only sell as two-buck-chuck (don't get me started on THAT) they then ream you for $15 for it. And with that money, you could have had a great bottle of wine with less obvious packaging...
But hey, at least your drinking wine! That's the best start... but live a little and gamble on a bottle - you may love it!
@ redbeard: Molly Dooker is one of my favorite wineries in the world - and DEFINATELY an exception. The labels are eye-catching, and the wine is even better! Everyone should buy a bottle!
On a separate note, just to brag, last month I hosted a wine dinner with Sparky Marquis and his mother, Janet. Highlight of the year ...
Except in the case of "critter wines" from Australia, I still use this. I also go in for bottles I find decorative and interesting. It can create a clutter issue unchecked, but in the short-term I enjoy some excellent wine!
FWIW, it is worth learning to read a wine label and figure out what all that means. The better you know the meanings, the more you'll get out of finding good wine with a pretty design.
Ridge has great labels AND great wine!
boarding pass is delicious!
I know nothing about wine at all, so this is how I chose my tipple - although I have had a few disappointments. Needless to say, I do believe that cheap wine doesn't taste that great... no matter how nice the label!
That Boarding Pass Shiraz is a hoot, Australians can have such a wicked sense of humor!
"it was ok to chose a wine..."
"people with similar aesthetics tend to like similar thing..."
"most of the times this is how I choose my wines"
Is your grasp of grammar really that bad or are you drunk already?