The Consol Glass company handed over to the Worcester Winelands Association a special bottle. A Braille bottle.

Solely for use by certified wines from the area, the classic claret-shaped bottle, in both white and red wine versions, will have, molded into the glass in Braille script, the words ‘100% Worcester, South Africa'. Although foreign wineries like Chapoutier and local ones like Bon Cap have used Braille on their labels, this may well be the first wine bottle with such script engraved.

The town of Worcester is world famous for its schools and care of the sight and hearing disabled. A combined project of Consol and the enterprising Worcester Winelands Association, some of the income from the special bottle sales will be donated to Pioneer Printing, a specialist Braille printing outfit.

According to Bridget Zietkiewics, manager of the WWA, the project is an initiative not only to put Worcester wines into the spotlight, but to associate the vintners with the good community work associated with the town. She says they may extend the concept, including promoting a wider use of Braille on local labels.

Some 400 000 of the special bottles will come off Consol's special production line for this most inventive regional concept.

(Source: Grape News / 8 August 2005)