Hotel celebrates Year of the Rooster early with artful wine

Chinese artist Shao Fan has designed a rooster pattern for Rosewood's vintage for the upcoming Chinese New Year. [Photo provided to China Daily]

There's an old Italian superstition about spilling wine: If that happens, you should immediately dab a little behind your ears, like perfume, for good luck.

Chinese artist Shao Fan was charmed by that folk wisdom, and he thought of it when a Tuscan winery asked him to design a label for its upcoming vintage that celebrates the Chinese New Year.

The result, a coquettish rooster, was unveiled this month by Castiglion del Bosco, a resort and winery managed by Rosewood in Italy. The company brought its newly released Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2010 to the hotel chain's Beijing sibling for a gala wine dinner.

Located in Montalcino, Tuscany, Castiglion del Bosco is a picturesque 800-year-old estate with vineyards producing Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino wines.

This is the third year that the Tuscan vintners have produced a commemorative wine for Chinese New Year, from a special vineyard dedicated to that vintage.

The gala dinner kicked off a series of just-ended white-truffle dinners, celebrating the cuisine and wine-making expertise of Tuscany.