;)
4UP
8-Bit Vintners meets Wine.Woot, home of the Boss Monster? It’s like Mitchell vs. Wiebe on wine-infused steroids.
When Woot Cellars released our first videogame-oriented wine last year, this Mike James guy was the only rival in the arcade. His 8-Bit Vintners seemed to have the same sense of humor, the same affection toward our shared geeky roots, the same blocky label design embodied by our Boss Monster – only he was a real wine guy who really knew his stuff. We lined up the quarters and prepared for a challenge.
But why fight? Instead of the antagonistic Mortal Kombat model, we looked to the collaborative spirit of Ikari Warriors. Rather than let our mouths write a check our joysticks can’t cash, we figured we’d join forces for an unstoppable two-player juggernaut of wine ‘n’ pixel fun. Not only is this way less stressful, but we also get to enjoy 8-Bit’s Player 1. This Syrah-based blend of fruit from vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope, and Walla Walla Valley is as accessible and approachable as Centipede, but as complex and intriguing as Defender. Before we knew it, we were tipping some into our empty grape soda bottle and hoping arcade security wouldn’t notice.
There’s room in the 8-bit universe for more than one videogame-themed wine. Welcome to the party, 8-Bit Vintners. You wanna jump on this Gauntlet machine? We could really use a valkyrie.
8-Bit Vintners Player 1:
- Appellation: Walla Walla Valley, Wahluke Slope, and Columbia Valley
- Blend: 50% Syrah, 30% Tempranillo, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Carmenere, 5% Malbec
- Harvest Date: August and September 2007
- Bottling Date: July 2009
- Cooperage: French, American, and Hungarian for 18 to 22 months
- Alcohol: 14.1%
- pH: 3.74
