Collecting Wine Labels – A Unique and Interesting Hobby
Wine bottle labels are already unique because different vineyards create different labels for different wines and even for different vintages. As wineries update their labels and change them to make them easier for people to read, the older labels will be harder to find and therefore more valuable. Generally, older labels and labels from better vintages will be worth more as collector’s items.
When establishing any type of label collection it may become necessary to preserve the container especially bottles such as wine bottles. The various methods used to remove labels can destroy or otherwise damage a label as it’s being lifted from the curved surface of a wine bottle.
Just as with all collectors items it is important that it maintain its condition in order to be of any value. If you do have to remove a label it is a good idea to gentle do so with a label removing procedure. Most people use heat in order to loosen the glue. This must be done carefully because heat damage can reduce the value of the label if you are collecting for value of the vineyard.
Vineyards use a couple of different methods in the creation of their labels. Some vineyards use the works of famous people in the making of their labels. Other vineyards enlist the help of outside sources to help create their labels. The latter method is what actually leads to the creation of, not just a label, but a work of art. And, amazingly enough, these labels are become collector’s items because of the artwork which they possess.
These are truly personalized wine bottle labels because the entire label is commissioned as a work of art and these are highly valued in the collecting community. There are a few things to consider when you are looking into the wine label collecting world.
You are going to want to collect older labels. This is because these are either going to be printed one at a time specially before there was mass production of labels, they are going to contain hand done works of art or they are simply going to be from expensive or fine vintages which gives them value in and of themselves.
A little research into collecting personalized wine bottles is a good idea. Check out the types of vintages that are true investments. It is best to collect highly desirable labels. However, you may just want to have fun with it. Collecting and personalizing wine bottles is interesting and a great conversation starter but It doesn’t actually have a large following.
