It started at the Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas.  Assembled at the Star Trek Wines booth, our team prepared to launch our first two Star Trek wines to the public: United Federation of Planets Special Reserve Old Vine Zinfandel & the long anticipated Chateau Picard.  As our team engaged with the throngs of Star Trek enthusiasts, we asked what should our next wine be.  The overwhelming response was Klingon Bloodwine.

When approached by Klingon Warrior (in full Klingon regalia) DeyvID HolQIn (David Holquinn), member of the Klingon Language Institute and Klingon Assault Group, we quickly struck up a conversation.  With such a rich history, cultural significance and as one of the core wines referenced in the Star Trek series, we knew what our next bottle was going to be.  Surrounded by passionate Star Trek fans, we also knew that in order to make this particular bottle of wine, we’d need the assistance of some real Klingon Warriors!

THE TEAM:
The Klingon Blooodwine creation was a true collaboration between the team at Star Trek, ViacomCBS Consumer Products team, Wines That Rock, multiple Star Trek specialists, our award-winning designers, award winning winemaker Andrew Nelson – named one of the Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemakers in 2020), with special assistance from our Klingon Warriors DeyvID HolQIn (David Holquinn) & qurgh lungqIj (Chris Lipscombe) – head of the Klingon Assault Group (KAG) and an assistant director for the KLI (Klingon Language Institute).

 

“I am honored to have been given the opportunity to work with Wines that Rock as they created this fantastic new wine,” said Chris Lipscombe (qurgh lungqIj), Head of the KLI – .  “Their eagerness to embrace Klingon history and culture during the work was glorious, and I hope every Klingon warrior has the chance to enjoy a bottle of this Bloodwine! ‘IwlIj jachjaj!”

 

“I am honored to have been given the opportunity to work with Wines that Rock as they created this fantastic new wine,” said Chris Lipscombe (qurgh lungqIj), Head of the KLI – .  “Their eagerness to embrace Klingon history and culture during the work was glorious, and I hope every Klingon warrior has the chance to enjoy a bottle of this Bloodwine! ‘IwlIj jachjaj!”

Perhaps the most interesting part of our research into Klingon Bloodwine was the deep dive into Klingon Culture & History.   For More than a millennium, Honor, Duty and Tradition have been the cornerstone of Klingon Culture.  Our mission was to honor that tradion.

“We spent a lot of time researching with leaders of the Klingon Assault Group and Klingon Language Institute to get the cultural and historic elements rights. With a particular focus on the Culture, history and the ritual nature of Klingon Bloodwinie.  From there, we focused on design elements, including a special silk screen process with a unique mesh texture that gives the bottle a look of authentic Klingon Armor and a certain gravitas,” said Wines That Rock’s Head of Innovation Craig Spurrier. “Honoring the ancient methods of the great Klingon vintners, premium Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were used to create this traditional Bloodwine, cultivated to produce strong flavors that glisten a vibrant ruby color in the glass. As a special ‘extra’ for fans, each bottle is hand filled and expertly wax dipped, one by one.”   Batlh YItlhuhtlh! Qapla

 

The 4 Klingon Bloodwine Corks

HIDDEN NUGGETS:  Besides the historical and cultural aspects, we thought it would be fun to include unique Klingon sayings on four different corks used in bottling – all celebrating the Klingon culture and language.  Here they are:

  • Listen to the Voice of your Blood

  • May your blood scream!

  • Success

  • Stop Talking and Drink

Another one of our favorite little gems of this project was releasing the “Official Press Release” in Full Klingon!  We also released this article, also in full Klingon for the hard core.  Perhaps our favorite nugget – The Klingon saying on the front:  

 

Some historical Contest, from Memory Alpha – the most definitive, accurate, and accessible  reference for everything related to Star Trek:

 

Bloodwine was a popular alcoholic beverage among the Klingons, best served warm. As with many Klingon foods and beverages, it was not for the faint of heart. Bloodwine was known to be highly intoxicating, to the point that most non-Klingons were scarcely capable of tolerating it; it was twice as potent as whiskey. Klingon captains and generals were fond of carrying several barrels of their favorite vintages to celebrate victories. Bloodwine was traditionally consumed by warriors being inducted into the Order of the Bat’leth. Bloodwine was used in a symbolic gesture following the Invasion of Cardassia in 2375.

Special thanks to our Klingon specialists David Holquinn (DeyvID HolQIn) & Chris Lipscombe (qurgh lungqIj)

 

Qapla’