Rare Victorian Silver Neck Ring Wine Label 'Thera'

An extremely rare Victorian silver Wine Label of neck-ring form, the narrow rectangular label with pierced domed surmount and single suspension loop attached to circular silver wire support, incised for Thera.

By William Summers, London, 1876.

Thera probably refers to the Volcanic Greek Island now known as Santorini. The island remains the home of a small, but flourishing, wine industry, based on the indigenous grape variety, Assyrtiko, with auxiliary cultivations of two other Aegean varietals, Athiri and Aidani. The vines are extremely old and resistant to phylloxera (attributed by local winemakers to the well-drained volcanic soil and its chemistry), so the vines needed no replacement during the great phylloxera epidemic of the early 20th century. In their adaptation to their habitat, such vines are planted far apart, as their principal source of moisture is dew, and they often are trained in the shape of low-spiralling baskets, with the grapes hanging inside to protect them from the winds.

Sold - £495.00