ha! I was talking to my roommate about this last night. She says yes (interior designer), but I say to an extent: I'm wary of overstylized labels but gaudy ones repel me. So— depends on the price?

If a bottle of wine has an ugly or tacky label I won't rule it out just because of that. You aren't drinking what's on the outside.

i do some/most of the time. i think that aside from going with wines that i KNOW that i like i tend to gravitate towards labels that are most attractive and then try those.

I do some of the time because I typically don't want to buy a wine with a animal on the label.

I totally do this with wine. And unfortunately, I do this with books too. Whoops.

I buy wine based on the varietal and the region, BUT I will admit that I don't care for wines with cutesy or clever labels... I think it's unnecessary and if the wine is good then it's not needed. Typically, not always, the cuter the label the worse the wine.

Even if you're repelled by gaudy or stylized or cutesy labels, you're still letting the label influence your decision!

I guess I do to an extent... if it's over-the-top I'd probably not look twice. But all in all I'm looking more for the type of grape and where it was made more than anything else.

I can't lie, I totally do!

I do this in reverse. I was told by a sommelier or wine shop owner (I can't remember) that the wines that are the most overpriced tend to have really bright, artsy labels in order to attract less knowledgeable wine buyers. So I definitely try to keep that in mind as I shop.

That said, I will totally get suckered in by a creative name. I can't help myself.

I usually don't. The only time I pick wine by a label is if I'm at a party or restaurant and like the wine. I'll usually remember the label so I can buy it later.

Of course I make my decision based on the label - that's where all the information is printed!

Joking aside, it depends on why I'm buying the wine. If I'm buying for dinner, I will go more by varietal or region. For friends as a gift, something I've already had. And when I'm just browsing, the label art does make a different. In all cases I usually take vintage into account when making the final decision.

My Dad supposedly read somewhere that wines with animals on the label are typically bad and you should avoid them. No idea where he got that - has anyone else heard that before?

mydiadem, I think he got that a little mixed up. Wines with animals on the label tend to sell more, but what's on the label can't actually affect what's in the bottle.

mydiadem, maybe he just made a judgment based on wines he had with animals on the label. I've sworn off any wine that has a label with an auto on it, because of two wines: Red Truck and Twin Fin Pinot Noir. Both suckered me in with their cute label, and were uber-cheap which might have more to do with the taste than the automobile on the label.

The only wine with an animal on the front that comes to my mind is Parker Station Pinot Noir, and I'm kind of fond of it.

Not usually, no..

I have no idea what I am doing when I pick a wine so I find the grape that I like, Sauvignon Blanc, and go from there. I try brands that I have heard of before, and sometimes, I try the most obscure, kitschy looking label on the shelf. Never really know what I am getting myself into, but I never spend enough to get pissed off. And if I don't want to drink the whole bottle, I end up cooking with it!

I saw a brand with a penguin on it, I can't lie I totally want to try it only based off the label.

No.

aimeeb, the wine with the penguin on it got me too. It's my favorite animal. But I tried it and their wine was pretty good. I'll admit the label will draw me in, but I look at the prices too. If it's over $15 I'm not buying it. Just can't afford anything over right now. But I've gotten lucky (Promisqous) and gotten some bad ones (Twin Finn Pinot Grigio). It's hit and miss.