Winery to Feature Jerry Garcia’s Art

The Clos du Bois winery in Geyserville, Calif., is launching J. Garcia wines, which feature the Grateful Dead’s late singer Jerry Garcia’s artwork on its labels.

Garcia’s abstract creations have already graced T-shirts and neckties.

“The first release to our distributors is sold out,” winery spokesman Kelly Keasy said.

The initial release consists of 50,000 cases of 2002 Sonoma County Chardonnay, 2000 Sonoma County Merlot and 2000 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. A Zinfandel is due out later this year.

Clos du Bois is owned by British food and beverage giant Allied Domecq.

Garcia, who died of a heart attack in 1995, attended high school near the Sonoma County town of Geyserville, located about 90 miles north of San Francisco. Members of his estate, who say Garcia enjoyed drinking Clos du Bois wine, approached the winery about putting Garcia’s artwork on its bottles.

This is not the first time the Grateful Dead has inspired wine enthusiasts. Six years ago, the wine company Celebrity Cellars released a nonalcoholic series called “Dead Red,” which featured images of Garcia and the Grateful Dead on their bottles.