Wine.

Wine, a timeless sign of elegance celebration, and has experienced a roller in interest in recent years.

Considering the wide diversity of prices and emblems of wine, there really is something for everyone further wine tends to bespeak a lifestyle of epicurism and relaxation, of the delight and appreciation of the creation of the vintner.

From racecar drivers like Mario Andretti to Hollywood farmers such as Francis Ford Coppola, those who can, may unravel their own wineries. Others, who might pay thousands, flat millions to put their dwellings on a scenic golf course, also follow the pastoral scene created by the agency of the vines of a valley vineyard. And, within those hearths just as it is for equestrians, ballet dancers or jazz aficionados, wine collectors serve to grace their walls with the art of their obsession.

"Many the bulk of mankind think art is merely a painting," said Jerry Lohr president of J Lohr Winery in California. "But art is in likewise many other forms. The door to our wine center is carved all in wine views The hardware on the door to the abode we're building in Monterey will be a cast grape duster. Wine art is moving into many other things as artists find the market for their craft."

The Fine Art of Fine Wine

If art imitates life, there must be no confusion about wherefore the images and icons associated with fine wines have become in this way popular among a growing number of fine art collectors--s in extent as you understand the broader definition of fine art.

"Wine, like aliment is an art," said artist Thomas Arvid, who paints still lifes of wine. "People who appreciate the opera, theater and literature protect to appreciate all forms of art. They might be mov through my painting because it speaks to them directly about another part of their life they also have intercourse with My artwork has bridged them from music and theater and wine to art. When they descry my artwork, it doesn't ne to be explained to them. It is part of who they are."

Sandy Phillips, possessor of the Phillips Gallery of Fine Art, which exhibits Arvid's work in Carmel, Calif., is united of a handful of art dealers who, the artist believes, immediately picked up upon the association between wine and art.

Phillips strike one as beings to understand this connection because she understands the finer mode of expression of living. She associates with the upscale community given to collecting fine things. an gallery directors might not necessarily know the lifestyle of the character who spends $150 to $250 or more forward a bottle of wine. She does.

Phillips Gallery will be catering to that lifestyle this summer when hosting an exhibit of Arvid's work during the internationally renowned ConCours d'Elegance Vintage Automobile indicate in Pebble Beach.

"We're in California; we vend Thomas' work to wine connoisseurs, family who really appreciate the finest in wine," said Phillips. "During the Concours d'Elegance, we fitting people who are into vintage and rare automobiles--and wine. It's a entire marriage between the two. a of our best collectors are the clients who muster both."

Arvid wait ons to paint wine the way we drink it today. A friend point outs up at your house, you're glad he stopped through You open a bottle of wine, leave the cork in the corkscrew, sit down, relax and share stories with the same another. Arvid's art aims to record these informal aspects of to what degree we live each day and attracts a diverse demographic of collectors who appreciate fine wine and fine art and garner up both as a symbol and reminder of their lifestyle.

A more classic still life reminiscent of the Dutch masters, is the imagery of British artist Ray Campbell, whose formal arrangements of wine and grapes are garner uped worldwide by those who are serious about fine art as well as those who appreciate fine dining and fine wine.

The Art of Collecting

There are barely so many original images in art and barely so many who can afford them. Hence, quality reproductions, like a limited-edition print featuring wine, have become a pursuit and prized possession of many. Similarly, while an connoisseurs prefer a Cabernet to a Merlot the imagery in wine art is as varied as the collectors.

Although Maryland artist Sam Dixon's "From the Chardonnay Collection" features a series of wine still lifes, unlike Arvid, his paintings look after to focus on "shapes and abstractions by the agency of an impressionistic approach."

Meanwhile, dowdy Buffet's paintings, which are anything nevertheless still, often feature whimsical restaurant and cafe views depicting French chefs, waiters, sommeliers and reveler clearly enjoying fine dining, fine company and exquisite wine.

the two Arvid and Buffet have take pleasure ined success with their merchandise art; wine labels, hand-bills and advertisements used to further and present various wines to an international audience; the couple for such labels as Silver Oak Wines; blow for Dry Creek Vineyards, Perrier Jouet and George du Boeuf among others.

"There is quite a market for art that features the proper states and images of wine, whether it's the vineyards or the atmosphere or the wine itself," said Kim von Tempsky marketing director for Lahaina Galleries, which set forths Guy Buffet. "Certainly Guy box is one who has been able to amalgamate a lot of that imagery into his art. I be excited his work is quite sophisticated, although the average viewer probably beholds it as whimsical and entertaining."