Hello Kitty is the pink-bowed, expressionless, 35 year old phenomenon. The kitty with the international hip factor that has curled up into the emotional laps of little girls and young women.
Her logo is on thousands of products from toys, to purses. Now there is a new product, but you won't find these kitty treats at the mall stores, they require a liquor license.
Hello Kitty has just released four different kinds of wines, each with a separate Hello Kitty label.
LA Weekly had the rundown on the new vintages.
- Hello Kitty Sparkling Brut Rose - A deep reddish pink sparkling rose made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
- Hello Kitty Sparkling "Sweet Pink" (Half Size) - This semi-sweet sparkler sports a pale pink hue and has very delicate bubbles.
- Hello Kitty Angel White - A "blanc" white wine made entirely from Pinot Noir free run juice.
- Hello Kitty Devil Red - A classically rendered Pinot Noir, the LA Weekly reported.
"I'm falling for it," said Brynna Ashley, wine customer and "Hello Kitty" fan. "I'm going for the Black Devil."
The wines are now available in a few places outside of online. Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa has taken in the Italian vino.
"I found it easy to resist, but I knew that I better research it. Five minutes on the Internet, I got it," said Jim Duane of Hi-Time Wine Cellars.
Hi-Time is a serious wine cellar with an infinite, international collection, and a fun loving staff who readily admit that now they are sitting in the cat-bird seat, despite some initial connoisseur condemnation.
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"We got reactions from our serious wine clientele that said 'Why do you stoop to carry Hello Kitty?' to people that 'Oh my God. I've got to call my girlfriends right now that you have it,'" said Jim Duane of Hi-Time Wine Cellars.
Still there were some who couldn't see past the pussy cat, insisting this is marketing wine to children.
But Hello Kitty is 35 years old and most of her adoring fans are of legal age to drink spirits, like Holly Grantham who takes online orders at Hi-Time, and was thrilled that there was this new "cat-nip."
"The day it came in I was instantly in love. I'm all grown up now and it grew up with me," according to Holly Grantham of Hi-Time Wine Cellars.
According to wine experts, fine wines and champagnes are usually bought for women, or by women. That is certainly the case here, but for now, Hello Kitty wines are a curiosity that did not kill the cat.
