Is Wine Art? An exploration in aesthetics: part two.
Wine, Art, and the Aesthetic Experience
Is wine art? Can sipping on a glass of wine cause an aesthetic experience bringing joy and beauty into your life? We have been contemplating this question since our last encounter.
The works of art that inspired my academic research are a painting called Rosaline by Michael Dowling and a bottle of Perrier Jouët Belle Époque Fleur de Champagne rosé vintage 2002. Each object is beautiful in its own way. Perrier Jouët Belle Époque Fleur de Champagne represents the height of old world opulence of a sophisticated, bygone era. Michael Dowling learned to paint in Florence and his style has an old world, Renaissance quality to it. When I saw Rosaline for the first time, I actually recalled the luscious taste and texture of the Perrier Jouët rose champagne in a strange synesthetic experience. It wasn’t the first time that viewing art or listening to music evoked a sensory experience of the taste of wine for me. Every quality about that painting matched the tasting note of the wine: pale, shimmering, peau de soie pink with a delicate mousse transcending the rich (foundation). Each are elegant and ethereal with a mysterious air that is at once beautiful and graceful. She gazes out of her world inviting the viewer to take her in just a little bit.
Perrier Jouët is known for its gorgeous bottles first painted by famed French painter and glass artist, Emile Gallé, whose Art Nouveau paintings and glass sculptures marked the Belle Époque era. In 1902, Gallé hand painted four magnum bottles of Perrier Jouët, adorning them with Japanese anemones using glossy white, pink and green paint and gilded the edges of the flowers with gold flakes. The beauty of the bottles reflects the beauty of the wine within. There is nothing more glorious than sipping on exceptionally crafted vintage champagne with luscious notes of freesia, gardenia and pink roses with crisp Fuji apples, white peach, ripe raspberries and delicate Madeleines. Even now, when I look at her I can actually taste this wine. When I taste the wine, her image floods my mind. Each is a similar and shared aesthetic experience.
WINE OBJECT | ART OBJECT |
Perrier Jouët Belle Époque Fleur de Champagne rosé | Rosaline
by Michael Dowling |
COLOR
Shimmering, pale peach, peau de soie pink, brilliant, luminous
|
FIRST IMPRESSION
Ethereal, exquisite, effervescent, luminous |
VISCOSITY
Very delicate, light, fleeting, effervescent
|
LINE
Fine, gossamer, delicate, muted |
PRIMARY AROMA
Delicate jasmine, freesia, pink rose petals, ginger, raspberries, Fuji apple,
|
PRIMARY COLOR
Muted tones of peach, pink, and hints of red emerge from the canvas |
SECONDARY AROMA
Almond blossom, toasted hazelnuts,
|
SECONDARY COLOR
The slightest hint of violet and blue |
TERTIARY AROMA
Madeleines, Amaretti cookies
|
TERTIARY COLOR
White tones, grey, beige, with hints of browns and black |
ACIDITY
Fresh, clean, racy, bright
|
BRIGHTNESS
White elements gives a shimmery brightness |
TANNIN STRUCTURE
Virtually none
|
STRUCTURE
Delicate yet obvious, fine-grained |
FLAVOR & COMPLEXITY
Lush, complex yet delicate, layers of pink floral notes, ripe strawberry and raspberry
|
COMPLEXITY & BRUSHSTROKE
At first glance a simple wash of colour, upon second there is much complexity |
BODY, MOUTHFEEL, TEXTURE
Rich mousse, effervescent, elegant, regal
|
THEMATIC ELEMENTS & TEXTURE
She is inviting the viewer into her celebration, yet she is a bit sad and longing for something or someone |
FINISH
Bubbles burst with flavor tantalizing the tongue, lingers for a few moments
|
LASTING IMPRESSION
There is a mystical quality, elegant, regal, enamored, even whimsical |
HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?
Delightful, blissful, enchanted, celebratory, wanting for more
|
HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?
Completely enchanted, but a bit sad, wondering about her and her desires, wanting for more |
©SimoneFMSpinner2014 Wine & Art Analysis Matrix
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©SimoneFMSpinner 1.5.2017
