Universal Furniture and Jaboulet Crozes-Hermitage
After checking into Universal Furniture with tired legs, it was impossible not to plop down onto this attention grabbing sofa. Not subtle by any means, it was clubby, handsome, and very well made. It projects restrained power with pretty touches that allow it to participate in the room nicely without sacrificing its inherent boldness.
It made me think of big, bold, peppery, spicy, Syrah red wines. The best examples of these wines are grown and produced in the Northern Rhone Valley of France. The French wine appellation Crozes-Hermitage can often produce super fine Syrah at amazing value prices…another direct connection to Universal Furniture’s value/quality program.
In 2017, one of the great producers in that region, Paul Jaboulet, produced a Domaine de Thalabert version that begs to be drunk on this sofa. Black fruit, hints of chocolate, game meat, pepper, plum, cassis, smoke and fine gripping tannins create a very high quality adult drinking experience. The wine demands notice, stands out in the crowd, and is the finest example in its class. For that reason, I craved a glass sitting here.
It is not a stretch to connect wine and design. It just takes sensory awareness and creativity. Producing wine pairings with home furnishings can bring a new layer of sensibility to your work, and can help your customers understand your ideas by relating them to something they know and enjoy.