Iceland’s State Alcohol and Tobacco Company Refuses To Sell Motörhead’s Wine

Who doesn’t love Lemmy and Motörhead? Well, apparently the State Alcohol and Tobacco Company, which has a monopoly in sales of alcohol in Iceland.

The company, known as ÁTVR, has refused to sell a Motörhead-themed Shiraz wine. According to IceNews, their reasoning is that the band’s name is a “nod to amphetamine abuse” and that their lyrics pertain to topics like war, unsafe sex and drugs. The wine’s Icelandic importer Hjörleifur Árnason has supposedly already appealed the case to the parliamentary ombudsman.

Icelanders hoping to have a taste of the Motörhead Shiraz 2010 need not to worry, though. While ÁTVR does have a monopoly alcohol retail in Iceland, importers and distributors can still sell directly to bars, restaurants and cafes. Thus, not only could it still be sold in the country, but now can gain a little extra attention thanks to the controversy (in case branding the wine as Motörhead wasn’t enough).

At the moment, though, it appears that the Motörhead Shiraz 2010 is still not distributed in North America, though can still be purchased through UK wine distributor Great Wine Online. More information about Motörhead’s wine can be seen over at its website .

An Overkill On Rock-Themed Wine: Motörhead, Ratt, And Warrant Releasing Lines Of Wine

Are you such a music and wine snob that KISS’ Zin Fire Wine isn’t good enough for you? Well normally we’d tell you you’re shit out of luck, but it turns out, you, the consumer, have some more rock-themed wine options.

First up, Sweden’s Bevarages Per Minute and Grapes Svenska AB have teamed up with none other than Lemmy Kilmister to produce a Motörhead themed Shiraz wine. Simply called the Motörhead Shiraz 2010, it’s being described as “a wine with a fruity aroma, flavors of vanilla, blackberries, plums, eucalyptus and liquorice, but with soft rounded tannins.” “My advice is — approach it with caution. I mean, wine is deceptive, anything can happen,” Lemmy himself warns. And we thought Jack Daniels was still Lemmy’s drink of choice. The Motörhead Shiraz 2010 actually already made its debut in Sweden in 2010, and has been a big hit in Scandinavia. Currently it doesn’t seem that the wine is being sold in North American stores, but can be purchased through UK wine distributor Great Wine Online. Check out the Motörhead Shiraz’s website to learn more about the wine that will surely turn you into a damage case by the end of the night.

Next up, Artist Wines is releasing lines of wines from two 80’s hair metal bands. Apparently, Warrant’s Cherry Pie Red 2007 Napa Valley wine was so popular and acclaimed that they sold out. Thus, a new one (this time simply called Warrant Red 2008 Napa Valley) had to be created and will be released in December of this year. In addition, Artist Wines will be releasing not one, but two Ratt themed wines, including a 2010 Ratt N Roll Chardonnay “Body Talk” and a 2009 Ratt N Roll Cabernet “Slip of The Lip!” Ratt drummer Bobby Blotzer gave the following explanation regarding his passion for wine:

“Grapes are one of nature’s richest and tastiest gifts. The colors, the flavors, and the beauty in which they grow. Vines reaching all across the land growing in mother earth’s finest of soils. Reaching from one end of the earth to the other, like music does.

I have had a love affair with wine for over 30 years now. I have been blessed to make my living doing one of life’s other greatest gifts; the gift of music. There is such harmony in music and in wine, for these last 30 years I have travelled all around the world with my band RATT and it’s been one heck of a ride, I’ll tell you that. This ride has allowed for the opportunity to experience so many different tastes and terroirs.”

You can check out Artist Wines’ official website to learn more about Warrant and Ratt’s line of wines, and images of the wines can be seen after the jump.  Read more »