Wine: My 175th wine grape species

[Mike Buckley]

The wine grape species is ruché.

I remember the days when I wondered how I would ever get to 50 wine grape species. Not that many years later, I'm going to take this wine made of our 175th species to the home of great friends to start the evening with a mini celebration of that nearly magical number (not that they know about that detail yet). Better yet, I was with another great friend from my childhood recently when I came upon this wine in a wine store.

According to Wikipedia: The grape species is so rare that it's commonly known to be grown in only 100 acres (40 hectares) in northern Italy. In fact, it's latest official designation as a regulated grape was decreed only six years ago. There are only unproven theories about the grape's origins.

Setup
A medium continuous-light lamp was on the left. A flashlight above and in front of the wine bottle lit the label and important parts of the fabric that otherwise would have been in shadow. A polarizer controlled the glare on parts of the fabric and label.

[NorthernFocus]

Who'd know there were even that many grape species in existence? Only a wine connoiseur I guess. Really a nice image, Mike. Makes is look as special as you described. Well done.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Dan!

Who'd know there were even that many grape species in existence?

Italy alone has more than 400 regulated wine grape species.

[Rita]

And you have given it a touch of eloquence.

[madcrow]

Usual high standards, I be disappointed if it was anything less. You have great lighting in your images.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[Donald]

Interested to hear about the tasting experience.

[John 2]

Interested to hear about the tasting experience.

Definitely. It's a pity that technology doesn't yet allow us to share it. A nicely made image Mike. Perhaps a little more definition might be worth while on the shoulders of the bottle? - perhaps??

[mugge]

I (also) want to know all about the taste. Ah! great photo.
Cheers Ole

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, everyone! I will try to remember to report back to everyone about the taste of the wine, though that will be nearly two weeks away.

Perhaps a little more definition might be worth while on the shoulders of the bottle?

That could be said not only about the shoulders you mentioned but also about the neck and torso of the bottle. I gave that considerable thought and made the decision that is unusual for me to intentionally lose almost all separation between those parts of the bottle and the shadow areas of the scene. The only separation I maintained, again intentionally so, is at the bottle's left shoulder, where I adjusted the polarizer to ensure that the reflection of the fabric on the shoulder is displayed to define that shape.

My inspiration to intentionally lose almost all of that separation comes from the famous self-portrait of Alfred Steiglitz. That photo also loses most of the separation between the subject and background with the result being that the image of him emerges from the darkness. Similarly, the bottle of wine emerges from the shadows for me but that could be only for me because I know what I intended.

[Wavelength]

Great

[madcrow]

Again great lighting. I would be disappointed if it was otherwise coming from you.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to Nandakumar and Maurice!