“In the dark a light arises, out of darkness, all things form,” a statement that Radgonske Gorice probably agrees with. The wine producer claims that “the best things happen in the dark.” This idea stands at the foundation of “Untouched by Light” sparkling wine, a liquor made entirely in the dark and recommended to be consumed in the same conditions.

During this week’s #ThrowBrandThursday, we invite you into the dark side as we have a one-of-a-kind story, courtesy of agency Bruketa&Žinić&Grey. The big announcement regarding the sparkling wine was made a year ago, but only as of December 2020, the Untouched by Light wine is officially available.

Research shows that the exposure of wine to light (be it natural or artificial) leads to what is described as light-struck aromas. Basically, light decreases the intensity of citrus aromas and, in turn, it increases the intensity of rubber or cooked cabbage ones. To preserve the taste and aroma of the wine, Radgonske Gorice’s Untouched by Light is made in complete darkness, from the grape harvest to its aging and the way it should be served.

Borut Cvetkovič, the winery’s Managing Director, said: “Untouched by Light is made from the ripest Chardonnay grapes by using the famous inside-the-bottle French fermentation method. What makes this wine unique is its aging process as Untouched by Light is left to age for two to three years in the caves of Radgona in Slovenia, untouched by the outside world — in the complete absence of light. In our jargon, it is known as a Crafted by Darkness method.”

So far so good, the wine is kept away from (sun)light throughout the whole process during which the people working on it use night vision glasses. But what happens when the wine finally emerges from the cave? The brand thought about this as well and took all the necessary measures. The wine is protected by a black lightproof bottle, which is “wrapped” in a vacuum-sealed bag so that any additional light or air contact be blocked.

A limited quantity of 2,000 bottles is available on the brand’s webpage. Enthusiasts should keep Cvetkovič’s suggestion in mind: “I would strongly recommend that you taste this wine in pitch darkness, in good company,” because all great things happen in the dark.

Credits:

Client: Radgonske Gorice

Agency: Bruketa&Žinić&Grey