Effective aging tag for wine

Abstract

A tag is configured to irreversibly indicate an effective maturity of a wine. For example, a tag may include a substrate, an indicator attached to the substrate, and a decal associated with the indicator to indicate an effective maturity of a wine. The indicator may be configured to irreversibly indicate a temperature history.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure generally relates to wine labels.

BACKGROUND

The fine wine market represents a growing consumer market. In 2001, the United States produced approximately 2.2 billion liters of wine, while the worldwide production was over 25 billion liters. In addition to the primary market, many bottles are purchased by collectors and sold in secondary auction markets. Many fine wines sell for $25 to $200 at retail and thousands of dollars at auction if the wine is considered of high quality, is rare or in short supply, and has good “provenance.”

The value of a bottle is typically driven by expert evaluations. Wine tasting experts often judge the quality of a wine and provide subjective ratings for consumers. In addition, such tasting experts and many wineries provide recommended aging or cellaring durations for wines. Generally, this information can be found in various trade journals. In providing the recommendation, such experts and wineries assume that the wine has predominantly experienced preferred temperatures during its life.

When wines receive high ratings and are in high demand and short supply, they often appreciate in price. The secondary auction market is sizable (e.g., $166 M in 2004). Collectors, brokers and auction houses take extreme care to determine the provenance, or detailed history of a wine, in particular, with regard to transport and storage conditions.

In addition, consumers that purchase fine wines prefer to drink them at their “peak,” or highest quality. Wine is unique from perishable food in that a fine wine generally improves with a particular amount of aging. Such an aging period may be from a couple of years to 20 years or more when the wine has predominantly been exposed to preferred conditions. High-quality, fine wine generally improves at a slow rate. Based on historical experiences and inputs from wineries and industry experts, the aging rate is determined at a stable temperature of approximately 55° F. Unfortunately, aging characteristics can be altered or negatively impacted by temperature increases and fluctuations. This degradation has an exponential effect and may have several response conditions. It is generally agreed that even fluctuations of 18° F. over a single day may cause harm. In addition, if temperatures are stable, aging can be “accelerated” by 2 times to 100 times or more, depending on the temperature. Moreover, wine may not only age faster but, the type of aging (that is, how compounds change over time) may be undesirable and may alter the taste or characteristics of the wine. Therefore, wines that have experienced high temperatures may have a drinking window that occurs before expected and further, may have lost their ability to age.

Unfortunately, a consumer often has no idea what temperature history a fine bottle of wine may have experienced. Temperatures higher than preferred can accelerate the aging and maturation process of wine, making it unlikely that the wine has aged as assumed by the experts.

As such, the most common question facing the fine wine consumer is “when should I drink this wine to experience its preferred flavor characteristics?” However, the answer is complicated by many factors. The wine may have been stored in a location having inconsistent temperature controls. Typically, temperatures are not tracked during shipment (e.g., in trucks, ships, planes, or on docks) or in storage, especially at the bottle-level. Today, wine is shipped all over the world and may go through several couriers before finally reaching the consumer. In addition, there are often inconsistencies when stored at the retail level, such as in liquor stores, wine shops, or restaurants. Often, wines are incorrectly stored at room temperature. Moreover, home cellaring temperatures are generally not consistent. Consumers may have temperature-controlled units, have underground cellars, or simply store wine in a closet or under the stairs.

To subjectively determine whether a wine has been exposed to very high temperatures or fluctuations in temperature, the industry uses visual clues, such as ullage, pushed cork, discoloring or seepage. Such methods show indications that are generally more representative of a catastrophic event. In particular, many wines may degrade or age faster without such symptoms.

Even if wine has seen non-ideal temperatures, it may be sold to unsuspecting consumers. As such, consumers relying on the tasting experts rating systems and recommended “drinking windows” may be encouraged to drink a wine too late. Moreover, such rating systems can affect wine pricing and a purchaser relying on a rating system absent knowledge of the temperature history of the wine may be overpaying.

Several cellar software systems are available to consumers to help consumers track inventory and manage drinking windows of the wine. However, today there is no solution that can help consumers understand the degradation or accelerated aging that has taken place so that they can adjust the drinking window or the price of the bottle of wine.

SUMMARY

In a particular embodiment, a tag is configured to irreversibly indicate an effective maturity of a wine.

In another exemplary embodiment, a tag includes a substrate, an indicator at the substrate, and a decal associated with the indicator to indicate an effective maturity of a wine. The indicator is configured to irreversibly indicate a temperature history.

In a further exemplary embodiment, a wine bottle includes an outer surface and a tag attached to the outer surface. The tag includes a substrate, an indicator at the substrate, and a decal associated with the indicator to indicate an effective maturity of a wine. The indicator is configured to irreversibly indicate a temperature history.

In an additional embodiment, a method of determining a maturity of wine includes applying a tag to a container storing the wine. The tag includes a substrate, an indicator at the substrate, and a decal associated with the indicator to indicate an effective maturity of a wine. The indicator is configured to irreversibly indicate a temperature history.

In another exemplary embodiment, a tag includes a substrate adapted to attach in the punt of a wine bottle and includes a visual indicator at the substrate and adapted to indicate an effective age of a wine stored in the wine bottle.

In a further exemplary embodiment, a tag includes a substrate and an indicator configured to provide a visual indication that a wine is at least an effective age.

In an additional embodiment, a tag includes a substrate, an indicator attached to the substrate and configured to irreversibly indicate a temperature history, and a visual decal associate with the indicator. The visual decal includes a first region and a second region. The first region is adapted to indicate a first maturity and the second region is adapted to indicate a second maturity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure may be better understood, and its numerous features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 include illustrations of exemplary wine bottles to which an exemplary tag is attached.

FIG. 3 includes a graphical illustration of wine aging.

FIG. 4 includes an example of rating and recommended drinking information.

FIG. 5 includes an example of a typical temperature history as a wine travels from winery to the consumer.

FIG. 6 includes a proposed wine maturation curve illustrating several temperature zones and related aging or maturation effects that wine may experience.

FIGS. 7A through 7D include potential aging or maturation effects for each zone illustrated in, for example, FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 includes an illustration of an exemplary tag.

FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12A, and FIG. 12B include illustrations of exemplary tag designs.

FIG. 13 includes a cross-sectional view illustration of an exemplary tag.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In a particular embodiment, a wine bottle includes an outer surface and a tag attached to the outer surface. The tag includes a substrate, an indicator attached to the substrate, and a decal associated with the indicator to indicate an effective maturity of a wine. The indicator is configured to irreversibly indicate a temperature history.

In another embodiment, a method of determining a maturity of wine includes applying a tag to a container storing the wine. The tag includes a substrate, an indicator attached to the substrate, and a decal associated with the indicator to indicate an effective maturity of a wine. The indicator is configured to irreversibly indicate a temperature history.

In particular, a tag attached to the outer surface of a wine bottle may indicate the effective maturity of the wine. The rate of maturation is influenced by temperature and other environmental factors in addition to the type wine in the bottle. An indicator that responds to environmental conditions in a manner indicative of the response of the wine to those conditions may be used to indicate an effective maturity of the wine.

FIG. 1 includes an illustration of an exemplary wine bottle 100. Alternatively, the bottle 100 may be a champagne bottle, a port bottle, a whiskey bottle, or a liquor bottle. The wine bottle 100 may include a label 106 and a tag, such as tag 104 or a tag 102. For example, the label 106 may include a visual display of information, such as a winery name, a vintage year, a grape varietal, other descriptions of the wine, or any combination thereof. In particular, the label 106 may provide an aesthetic marketing message to encourage purchase of the wine. In an exemplary embodiment, the tag, such as tag 102 or 104, may include a visual indication of an effective age or maturity of a wine stored in the wine bottle 100.

Typically, the tag 102 or 104 and the label 106 are permanently adhered to the wine bottle 100. In an example, the tag 102 or the tag 104 is attached to an outer surface of the wine bottle 100. For example, the tag 102 may be attached to the outer surface of the main body of the wine bottle 100, such as proximate to the wine label 106. In an example, the tag 102 may be separated from the label 106 or may at least partially overlap with the label 106. Alternatively, the tag 102 may form part of the label 106. In another example, the tag 104 may be attached to the neck of the wine bottle 100. Alternatively, a tag, such as tag 204, may be adapted to fit within the punt 202 of a wine bottle 200, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Generally, the punt 202 is concave in nature. In particular, locating the tag 204 in the punt 202 may be advantageous as it may be more aesthetically pleasing, inconspicuous, less prone to damage and mechanical stress, and less prone to touching by the human hand that may influence the temperature history illustrated by the tag 204. Although primarily targeted for the bottle, the tag 204 alternatively may be placed on the case of wine to provide a quick check prior to opening the case.

Generally, consumers prefer to drink a wine when the wine is in a mature state, often referred to as “at its peak,” prior to its natural decline or even, souring or spoiling of the wine. Fine wines are unique in that they may improve with age and transition through a time-dependant quality curve or profile 300 as represented in FIG. 3. The length and height of the curve 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 represents a preferred maturation profile of the wine while the wine is in the bottle. Generally, the curve 300 is influenced by factors, such as the grape varietal, growing conditions of the grape, and fermenting conditions. In addition, the curve 300 also may be influenced by the conditions to which the wine is exposed after bottling. A preferred maturation curve is based on storage of wine in an environment where the temperature and other variables, such as humidity, light, and vibration are a preferred value (i.e., 55° F.). Also, the curve may be unique for each type of wine with respect to the aging capability of the wine.

The industry typically represents the maturation of the wine with the three primary phases of the time-dependant quality curve, as represented by this example of a typical time-dependant quality curve 300. For example, the phases include a “hold” period 302 where the taste quality of wine is improving; a “desirable or preferred drinking window” phase 304, where the wine may be at or near its' best; and a declining phase 306 where the wine may be drinkable but, the quality may be declining. Wine may be drunk in any of these phases, but some consumers prefer waiting until the “desirable drinking window” has transpired. Generally, the appearance of these phases at times indicated by a preferred quality curve 300 may depend primarily upon proper storage at preferred temperature, for example, about 53° F. to about 59° F., such as about 55° F. However, if the wine is exposed to higher temperatures during storage or transport, the maturation may change and either the duration (time) or quality may be reduced. In a particular example, an “effective age” may be used to identify where the actual maturity of the wine is relative to a preferred maturation profile.

In a particular embodiment, a tag configured to display a temperature history may assist a consumer by illustrating an effective age of the wine and thus, a consumer may decide to drink the wine when the effective age indicates desired maturity, before the wine prematurely ages. Since many wines are taken out of their cases and sold individually, such a tag placed on the bottle may be helpful to purchasers of individual bottles.

Often, industry publications, such as “Wine Spectator” or “The Wine Enthusiast,” and “wine experts” that sample or taste many wines throughout their maturation may provide a rating of the wine. These experts generally publish “ratings,” such as the example in FIG. 4, and make drinking recommendations to the consumer, for example, hold or drink. In an exemplary rating system 400, a quality rating 402 may be provided and a recommended drinking status 404 may be provided. For example, the quality rating 402 may be a 92 out of 100 points and given the current date, may be recommended to drink at this time or to hold for further quality improvement or to drink because the wine may be in a natural declining phase.

However, such expert ratings often assume preferred storage conditions, such as preferred storage temperatures. Unfortunately, wine may not be stored under preferred storage conditions at all times. For example, a wine may be loaded on a truck, put on a ship, temporarily stored in a warehouse, or may possibly sit out on a dock, before being sent on another truck to a distributor's warehouse. Further, the wine may stay in the distributor's warehouse for several months prior to being shipped by truck to a retail location. A retail location, such as a retail store or a restaurant, may keep a bottle for several years before it is sold to a consumer. Once sold, a consumer may drink the wine. Alternatively, the consumer may cellar the wine for several more years before drinking or re-selling the wine in an aftermarket. Throughout this process, there are many situations in which the wine may be exposed to non-ideal temperatures, as shown in a graphical representation of temperature history 500 in FIG. 5. In particular, potential temperature excursions 502 beyond preferred temperatures may occur at various locations 504 over a time period. Such temperature excursions may accelerate aging or may cause the quality of a wine to degrade prematurely.

Based on inputs from many industry sources (wineries, publications, wine experts, research, collectors), fine wine will typically follow the time-dependant quality curve illustrated in FIG. 3 when stored under preferred conditions. However, when preferred conditions are not met, the wine's maturation process may change. For example, as temperature increases, the aging characteristics may accelerate or decline, effectively maturing the wine faster. Sub-freezing temperatures may have similar effects. A representation of the possible effects of temperature on the maturation of wine is depicted in FIG. 6 where the estimated maturity rate curve 600 shows a typical degradation of quality for different temperatures. The exemplary curve 600 represents a wine that theoretically improves and has high quality for 20 years when maintained at preferred temperatures. However, the wine may undergo substantial maturation changes at higher temperatures, thereby reducing its effective lifetime. The y-axis of the graph represents effective lifetime in days using a log scale and the x-axis represents temperature exposure in degrees Fahrenheit. As a result of the chemistry of a wine, there may be different acceleration factors in each zone, as depicted by the arrows 612 and 616 showing different slopes. Some of these slopes may follow an Arrhenius reaction while others may not. In particular, each of these slopes may represent a different set of chemical reactions that occur within the wine and that either improve the flavor of the wine or cause a decline in flavor. The graphed curve 600 has been denoted by five zones to characterize this maturity curve:

• A. the preferred temperature zone 602;
• B. the moderate aging zone 604;
• C. the fast aging zone 606 (may also have a quality impact);
• D. the extremely hot zone 608 (may also have a quality impact); and
• E. the extremely cold zone 610 (may also have a quality impact).

As described below, these five zones (A, B, C, D and E) are used to represent a continuum of changing maturity profiles. In particular, the zones illustrate an estimate of the relative maturation life or effective aging life of wine. Based on the time and temperature exposure, an expected 5 to 20 year aging life may be reduced to a few years, months, weeks, days, or even hours. The relative effective life is illustrated above curve 600 with these descriptive durations 614. It should be noted that the exact temperatures delineating each zone are estimates and may change by several degrees.

As such, a tag configured to indicate an effective age or maturity may assist consumers by monitoring the temperature and maintaining a temperature history. In a particular example, the tag may include indicators that respond in accordance with the slopes, such as indicated by arrow 612, of one or more of these zones. For example, a tag may include a first indicator which approximates the maturation profile of zones A or B, while a second indicator attached to the substrate may be configured to irreversibly indicate a temperature history in zone C and a third indicator may be configured to irreversibly indicate exceeding a threshold temperature (cold or hot) as depicted in zones D or E. In particular, an indicator that responds to temperature in accordance with the slope 612 may not indicate an accurate change at high temperatures, indicating, for example, a maturation lifetime on the order of 100 days. In contrast, an indicator configured to respond to temperature in accordance with slope 616 may accurately depict maturation lifetime at high temperatures yet, may fail to indicate maturity at lower temperatures. Alternatively, one or more indicators may be configured to indicate that the effective age is at least a value following maturation resulting from exposure to environments represented by one or more zones (A, B, C, D, or E).

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D include illustrations of exemplary time-dependant quality curves based on exposure to temperatures in the different zones as described in FIG.6. Each zone may have different acceleration factors and may impact the ageability, quality, or any combination thereof. FIG.7A is a representation of a preferred time-dependant quality curve 700, which illustrates the early improvement phase 702, followed by a preferred drinking window phase 703 and a declining phase 705.

FIG. 7B represents a zone B time-dependant quality curve 706 relative to a preferred time-dependant quality curve 704. Zone B represents a moderately increased aging rate relative to preferred temperatures. The time-dependant quality curve 706 shows the accelerated aging of wine by the shorter time period between the start of the improvement phase and the end of the declining phase. Therefore, the “effective age” of the wine may be older than the chronological age of the wine because of the accelerated aging rate, which speeds up the maturation process.

FIG. 7C represents a zone C time-dependant quality curve 709 relative to a preferred time-dependant quality curve 708. Zone C represents a much faster maturation process that accelerates the aging, thus reducing the total time 710 and may reduce the quality of wine as represented by a shorter and lower peak quality 712.

FIG. 7D represents a zone D or zone E time-dependant quality curve 715 relative to a preferred time-dependant quality curve 714. Zones D & E represent extreme heat (D) and extreme cold (E) exposure which accelerates the aging, thus reducing the total time 716 and likely reducing the peak quality of wine 718.

In an exemplary embodiment, a tag, which is permanently attached to the bottle of wine, may provide a temperature history of the wine and provide information to the consumer that may assist the consumer in determining whether the wine has typically been exposed to preferred temperatures or temperatures in one of the other temperature zones. By having this information, a consumer may make more informed decisions, for example, estimating the “effective aging” of the wine, and therefore, may choose to drink the wine earlier. In another example, a consumer may choose to store his wine in a home cellar with temperatures regulated in zone B. If the consumer typically consumes a wine after 10 years of aging, an exemplary tag may indicate the effective aging of 10 years based on the temperature exposure and therefore, if the temperature exposure was higher than preferred (e.g., zone B), 10 years of “effective aging” may occur in a shorter time period, for example, after only 5 years. In another example, if an exemplary tag is used with an indicator to represent zone D, whereby the indicator is configured to irreversibly indicate an exceeded threshold temperature, then the consumer may choose to not purchase this wine or if already purchased, may choose to drink the wine very soon.

FIG. 8 includes an illustration of an exemplary wine aging/maturity tag 800 configured to irreversibly indicate a temperature history and a descriptor or decal associated with the indicator to represent the “effective aging/maturing” of a wine. The tag 800 may include exemplary temperature indicator 802 representing zone A maturation, indicator 804 representing zone E maturation, indicator 806 representing zone D maturation, indicator 808 representing zone C maturation and indicator 809 representing zone B maturation. Alternatively, one or more of the indicators may respond to conditions of a zone, such as responding in accordance with the slope indicated in zone A, but, mature at a different time, such as at 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, or any combination thereof. In a further exemplary embodiment, the indicator may respond to a temperature history to which the wine is exposed, including conditions equivalent to zones A, B, C, D, or E, or any combination thereof, and indicate an effective maturity based on the temperature history, such as at least a particular number of years effective maturity (e.g., 5, 10, 15, or 20). In particular, the tag 800 may include a combination of such indicators.

The indicator (802, 804, 806, 808, or 809) may include a chromophoric agent or other type of chemical temperature-reactant and may be configured to change to a color in accordance with an Arrhenius reaction. The Arrhenius reaction may be configured to effect a chromatic change after a period of time under preferred conditions or a different period of time under non-ideal conditions, representing the effective aging/maturation extending at least about 5 years (relative to preferred conditions), for example. In particular, the indicator (e.g., 802, 804, 806, 808, and 809) may be configured to effect a change in a chromatic agent in accordance with the slope of a zone. Further, the indicator (e.g., 802, 804, 806, 808, and 809) may irreversibly change in response to the temperature history, such as undergoing an immediate irreversible change in appearance or undergoing a gradual change in appearance, such as a change in hue or lightness, that does not revert to a previous appearance in response to the temperature history.

The tag 800 may include, for example, 1 to 5 different indicators (e.g., 802, 804, 806, 808, and 809) and a time stamp 812 that can be used to compare the effective aging/maturation against the chronological age. In addition, each indicator, descriptor, or decal area may have a background color 810, such as yellow, red, green or blue to represent each maturation zone. For example, zones A and B may have a green background color to represent preferred or moderate aging, zone C may have a yellow background to represent fast aging, zone D may have a red background to represent extreme heat, and zone E may have a blue background to represent extreme cold. Alternatively, the colors may indicate a recommended drinking or storage decision, such as a drinking window, a continue storing window, or an in decline window. In another example, other colors may be used to represent particular zones.

FIG. 9 includes an illustration of an exemplary circular tag 900 that may include optional tabs 902. The optional tabs 902 may be used for additional printed information or for additional surface area to adhere or conform to the bottle. The tag 900 shows an example of a latent image number “5” 904 used as a descriptor to represent the effective aging of the wine, such as 5 years. In another example, the descriptor may be inside the indicator, such as a latent image 904, or a printed image 906 near the indicator, such as the number “20” to represent an effective aging of 20 years. As an alternative, for the fast aging and extreme aging zones, a color code 908 may be used whereby, for example, the color red may represent zone D and the color blue may represent zone E.

Based on the information from the tag, a consumer may make decisions on whether to adjust the “drinking window”, typically to drink much sooner. In addition, when one of the indicators has changed, a consumer or collector may choose not to purchase a bottle from a retail store or may pay a lower price. Conversely, if all indicators are good, then a collector may pay more money, for example, at an auction. Further, a time stamp may assist the consumer in determining the risk associated with purchasing or storing the bottle or case.

FIG. 10 includes an illustration of an exemplary tag 1000 that may have different display options. A latent image 1002 may display a “5 y” to represent 5 effective years of aging or a printed image 1004 may display a “10 y” to represent 10 effective years of aging. Each indicator also may have a background color, such as red 1006 to represent each of the zones. Alternative displays may show more detail, such as a latent or printed image 1008 that may display 90 2 H, representing a minimum exposure of 90° F. for 2 hours or more, represented by zone D. Another display may show a latent or printed image 1010 that may display 80 2 W, representing a minimum exposure of 80° F. for 2 weeks or more. Another example may include a latent or printed image 1012 that may display 32 2 H to represent exposure of 32° F. or colder for 2 hours or more. In particular, a tag may be adapted to illustrate the desired aging/maturation responses associated with the particular wine to which the tag is attached.

In particular, a tag may be circular in shape to fit into the punt of a wine bottle. However, the tab may be formed in various shapes, such as rectangular or triangular, with or without tabs, or any combination thereof. FIG. 11 includes illustrations of two exemplary rectangular tags 1100 and 1102. The tag 1100 includes 5 indicators and the tag 1102 includes 6 indicators. As illustrated in the tag 1100, multiple indicators may represent different zones or, as illustrated in the tag 1102, multiple indicators may represent the same zone and different effective time periods. A time stamp 1104 may provide an absolute time to the customer to which other indicators are relative, i.e., 5 years effective maturity relative to the time stamp 1104.

In a particular example, a tag may be adapted to the expected aging/maturation responses, as shown on the indicator 1106 representing 20 years of effective aging, indicator 1108 representing 90° F. for 8 hours, indicator 1110 representing 80° F. for 1 week and indicator 1112 representing 32° F. for 8 hours. Alternatively, printed images 1114 may be placed outside of the indicator such as 26/8 h representing 26° F. for 8 hours.

FIGS. 12A and 12B include illustrations of two exemplary tags, a square tag 1200 and a triangular tag 1204. Such tags may include a second indicator 1202 that may represent the same zone or a different zone than the other indicators on the tag.

FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary tag 1300. The tag 1300 may include a top surface layer 1302, an indicator 1304 associated with the top surface layer 1302, and a substrate 1306 supporting the top surface layer 1302 and the indicator 1304. In addition, the tag 1300 may include backing 1308 coupled to the substrate 1306 and adhesive 1310.

In an exemplary embodiment, the tag 1300 includes a top surface layer 1302 that may have printable information or color-coding. In particular, the top surface layer 1302 may form a decal to represent the effective aging/maturing of a wine. For example, the effective aging or maturity of a wine may be indicated by associating a number or a color with a chromatic change in the indicator 1304. In a particular example, a number 5 may be associated with an indicator, such as indicator 1304, that is configured to change color after 5 years effective maturity. The actual time the indicator 1304 changes color depends on the temperature history experienced by the indicator 1304 and thus, the bottle to which the tag is attached. While represented as a single layer, the top surface layer 1302 may be formed from multiple layers. In addition, the top surface layer 1302 may include a date stamp or date indicator that is placed at the approximate time of attachment. While not illustrated, additional layers may overlay the top surface layer 1302, such as protective polymer films including additives to improve weatherability of the tag 1300, such as UV absorber additives.

In a further embodiment, the tag 1300 may include one or more indicators 1304 that include a chromophoric agent or other type of chemical reactant. Exemplary indicators 1304 may respond in accordance with the expected aging or maturation responses of a wine to which the tag 1300 is to be attached. For example, an indicator 1304 may respond to conditions, such as conditions represented in zones A, B, C, D, E, or any combination thereof. Such an indicator 1304 may change appearance, such as color or color saturations, after a reaction performed therein reaches an anticipate point, effectively illustrating an effective age or maturity. Alternatively, the indicator 1304 may gradually change in appearance in response to environmental conditions. In another example, the indicator 1304 may respond when a temperature threshold is passed, such as an upper threshold (e.g., 80° F. or 90° F.) or a lower threshold (e.g., 32° F. or 26° F.). In a further example, conditions associated with a zone (e.g., A, B, C, D, or E) may influence a particular set of reactions within the chemical system in wine. As such, an indicator 1304 may respond to conditions within a zone and represent the set of reactions effected by conditions within that zone. In particular, a set of indicators, including indicator 1304, may represent a desired maturity of a wine by representing that a set of desirable reactions have progressed and a set of undesirable reactions have not progressed.

Exemplary indicators are formed of a set of reactants included in a multilayer containment structure. While indicator 1304 is illustrated as a single layer, the indicator 1304 may have multiple layers. For example, the indicator 1304 may have one or more reactant containing layers and one or more layers to encapsulate or surround the one or more reactant containing layers. An exemplary indicator may be commercially available or available by customer order from 3M, St. Paul, Minn. or TempTime of Morris Plains, N.J.

The substrate 1306 may be formed of a polymer film, fibrous material, or a metal foil. In particular, the substrate 1306 may formed of a fibrous material, such as paper. In another example, the substrate 1306 may be formed of a polymer film.

In an example, the tag 1300 may include an optional backing layer 1308 attached to the substrate 1306. In particular, the backing layer 1308 may be adapted to conform to the punt of a wine, champagne, or port bottle. For example, the backing layer 1308 may include a foam material that conforms to the punt of a bottle.

In a further example, the tag 1300 may include an adhesive 1310. In an example, the adhesive 1310 is directly applied to the substrate 1306. In another example, the adhesive 1310 is applied to the optional backing layer 1308. Generally, the adhesive 1310 may be configured to adhere the tag 1300 to a bottle. In particular, the adhesive 1310 may be configured to bind to a bottle with greater strength than other label materials. As such, when overlapping such labels, the tag 1300 may damage such labels if an attempt is made to remove the tag 1300 from the bottle.

Further, the tag 1300 optionally may include tabs 1312 that can be used to display printed information or used as additional adhesive surface. In particular, the tabs 1312 may bend to conform to the punt of a bottle.

In a particular embodiment, the tag 1300 includes more than one indicator 1304. At least one indicator 1304 may be configured to respond to conditions in accordance with the slope representing one or more of zones A, B, C, or any combination thereof. In addition, the tag 1300 may include an indicator that response to conditions in accordance with one or more of zones D, E, or any combination thereof. A consumer may read the tag to determine a course of action (e.g., buy, sell, drink, hold, etc.). For example, when an indicator that responds in concert with zones A or B indicates maturity and an indicator associated with zones D or E does not indicate decline, the consumer may decide to purchase and drink the wine. Alternatively, when an indicator associated with zones D or E or associated with high temperature excursions indicates a decline, the consumer may decide not to buy whether an indicator that responds in concert with zone A or B maturation shows maturity or not.

While embodiments of a tag configured to indicate effective maturity are described with respect to wine, other products may characteristically improve with age and thus, may benefit from a tag configured to indicate effective maturity. In particular, fine quality wine, champagne, liquor, port, vinegar, cheese, or any combination thereof, may exhibit a maturation profile that is dependent on storage conditions. As such, a tag indicating effective maturity may beneficially be applied to such products.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

Claims

1. A tag configured to irreversibly, indicate an effective maturity of a wine.

2. The tag of claim 1, the tag comprising:

a substrate;

an indicator at the substrate, the indicator operable to irreversibly indicate a temperature history; and

a decal associated with the indicator to indicate the effective maturity of a wine.

3. The tag of claim 2, wherein the decal indicates a measurement of the effective maturity based on the irreversibly indicated temperature history.

4. The tag of claim 2, further comprising a second indicator attached to the substrate.

5. The tag of claim 4, wherein the second indicator is operable to irreversibly indicate the temperature history.

6. The tag of claim 4, wherein the second indicator is operable to irreversibly indicate exceeding a threshold indicator.

7. The tag of claim 2, wherein the indicator includes a chromophoric agent.

8. The tag of claim 2, wherein the indicator is configured to change appearance in accordance with an Arrhenius reaction.

9. The tag of claim 8, wherein the Arrhenius reaction is operable to effect a chromatic agent after a period of time representing an effective maturity of at least about 5 years.

10. The tag of claim 2, wherein the effective maturity is associated with a preferred maturation profile.

11. The tag of claim 2, further comprising an adhesive layer underlying the substrate.

12. The tag of claim 11, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to permanently attach the tag to a bottle.

13. The tag of claim 2, further comprising a backing layer attached to the substrate.

14. The tag of claim 13, wherein the backing layer includes a foam material.

15. The tag of claim 13, wherein the backing layer is adapted to conform to the punt of a wine bottle.

16. The tag of claim 2, further comprising a printable surface layer.

17. The tag of claim 2, further comprising a date indicator associated with the approximate time of tag attachment.

18. The tag of claim 2, wherein the tag is configured to fit within a punt of a wine bottle.

19. The tag of claim 2, wherein the tag is configured to fit on a side surface of a wine bottle.

20. The tag of claim 2, wherein the tag is circular, triangular, or rectangular.

21. The tag of claim 2, wherein the tag has a tab.

22. The tag of claim 2, wherein the decal includes a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is associated with a first effective maturation and wherein the second region is associated with a second effective maturation.

23. The tag of claim 22, further comprising a third region associated with a third effective maturation.

24. The tag of claim 22, wherein the first region has a first color and wherein the second region has a second color.

25. A wine bottle comprising:

an outer surface; and

a tag configured to indicate an effective age of a wine.

26. A method of determining a maturity of wine, the method comprising:

applying a tag to a container storing the wine, the tag comprising: a substrate; an indicator attached to the substrate, the indicator configured to irreversibly indicate a temperature history; and a decal associated with the indicator to indicate an effective age of a wine.