By Elizabeth Clair Flood

Painting by Buckeye Blake

Well-known western artist Buckeye Blake refuses to just create on canvas. He's designed matchbook labels, posters, Arizona Tea labels, silk scarves, Cow Camp china, Due West furniture, and now, etched Western wine bottles.

In conjunction with Trefethen Vineyards & Winery in Napa Valley, Blake designs limited edition etched bottles for a variety of vintages. Because Blake has only designed a handful of bottles, collectors treat them like an art piece. At the Sun Valley Art Center Auction two years ago, one of Blake's bottle sold for $7,500. The following year, his cowboy label, featuring a cowboy standing next to his horse, went for $6,500. The artist is now working on a cowgirl with her arm around her horse, framed by Art Nouveau designs.

"We like to do a couple of each design, or sometimes just one," says Blake's wife, Tona. "I don't think people even open the bottles. They just like to collect it." For each label, there is a matching painting.

Because of the interest in these bottles, the Blakes are now designing a limited edition of Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignons for people interested in bottles for special occasions like weddings or posh dinner parties.

In the past, the Blake bottles have featured a 1988, 1989, and 1990 Cabernet. The first Trefethen vintage was produced in 1973. The winery prides itself on its food-friendly wines – an industry buzz-word for elegant and tasty, with fruit more prominent than oak. John Trefethen likes to describe his award-winning wines as "wines with restraint."

For more information: Buckeye and Tona Blake, (208) 788-4439.

Copyright ©1999 Cowboys & Indians


Top of Page