The first inclusive labels for the visually impaired will be launched at the WineUp Fair in Transylvania.
At WineUp Fair in Transylvania, Artvinium and The Scripor Alphabet, the tactile standardization of colors, will launch the first labels which will give visually impaired people access to the color of wine. The concept and a full range of possible implementations on wine bottles, labels and accessories will be presented during the WineUp Fair in Transylvania, which will take place in, Cluj-Napoca, Romania on May 27-29, 2022.
White, rose and red are one of the most fundamental descriptors of wine. The color is one of the attributes of wine to which winemakers dedicate their constant care, attention and patience because it is the first attribute that people see and evaluate.
“The sensory evaluation has assumed a key and critical role in the world of wine appreciation. The typical normal sequence in wine tasting is to view, smell and taste. It is well known that visual appearance and color in particular can have a strong influence on smell, which in its turn, has a defining impact on taste. While sensory perception in general and sensory perception of wine in particular is an endlessly fascinating and complex topic, it can only be complete if you can evaluate all its characteristics.
Until now, it was impossible for people with visual impairment to fully evaluate a wine based also on color. They could participate in a wine tasting only with the support of a personal companion, who could describe the color and appearance of a wine to them.” Ioana Bidian Micu, Wine Expert, CEO ArtVinium
“With The Scripor Alphabet – the tactile standardization of colors, the colors are available for people with visual impairments, as an extension of the Braille alphabet. This innovative, easy-to-learn and universal chromatic standardization allows every person with visual impairment to read, write, differentiate and recognize colors efficiently. Using the principles of Universal Design, The Scripor Alphabet is meant to empower the blind, colorblind and people with visual disabilities, enabling them to live inclusively, in a colorful world.
While the Braille cell is composed of six dots, the Scripor Alphabet cell is composed of ten dots. The combination of dots, from a single cell is used to represent a color, any additional cells represent light or dark shades, tones, saturation or intensity of colors. Being very simple to learn and remember, the use is universal because the dots combination for red, white, pink is the same in every language. This makes the Scripor Alphabet easily assimilated by adults in a matter of minutes, gaining popularity and practicality in their day to day lives. Furthermore, the simplicity of the Scripor Alphabet makes it very compatible with assistive technology such as modern printers.“ Tudor Paul Scripor, the inventor of The Scripor Alphabet, the tactile standardization of colors.
Multiple studies have shown that the color of the wine plays a greater role in defining perceived odor than the chemical constitution of the wine and the taste is largely defined and influenced by odor. For people with visual impairment the situation is different, because they can’t see the color, and they don’t have any kind of information to identify the color of the wine and to make the mental connection between color, smell and taste. However, their ability to identify smell and taste is far more advanced than the average person without visual impairments. The correlation of the tactile perception of color and the connection with the taste and smell of wine will give them the complete pleasure of tasting a wine, will give them new, pleasant and much more varied experiences.
At WineUp Fair in Transylvania, visitors are invited to participate in the masterclass: “Guess the color of the wine only by smell and taste. A totally blind wine tasting “. Visually Impaired People will have free access to the first Braille and Scripor Alphabet Introductory Wine Tasting Guide.
“We want to bring to the attention of the general public, producers and visually impaired people this innovative concept and the multiple possibilities of use in the wine world. We have designed for this several presentations and specific activities.
We designed a masterclass for the general public: “Guess the color of the wine only by smell and taste. A totally blind wine tasting” in order to raise awareness to the need to use the color symbols on the wine labels, bottles and accessories and thus provide an opportunity for people with visual impairments to be included in the wine world.
For the visually impairment visitors we will provide the first wine tasting guide, an introduction in wine tasting, written in Braille with a few audio clips inserted and the full presentation of The Scripor Alphabet, the tactile standardization of colors. They will find the possibility of accessorizing wine glasses, so that they can identify the color of the wine in the glasses and not just on the bottles.
I hope that producers will embrace the concept and that they will start to implement the color symbols of their wine labels, bottles and accessories. We will provide to all the wine producers an implementation guide, even if this is a voluntary labeling. The guide is a necessary standardization for wine producers and consumers who regulate the use of color symbols so that they can be easily found on any label regardless of the wine’s producer or country of origin. ” Ioana Bidian Micu, Wine Expert and CEO ArtVinium
“I associate wine with moments of joy, relaxation and socializing with friends. I am glad that we can associate my invention, the tactile standardization of colors, with a part of our lifestyle. I believe that in this way we will increase the quality of life and gastronomic experiences of people with visual impairments. All the accessories that will be presented at WineUp Fair in Transylvania, will facilitate their access to color, to a more inclusive life.
I was strongly motivated and inspired by the interaction with a blind young man in a painting class, I decided to use all my experience in art and love of colors to make a difference. After many years of intense study, research and multiple tests, we have developed a tactile color alphabet for people with color perception disorders: dyschromatopsia, achromatopsia, color blindness or blindness. Launched in 2020, awarded the Gold Medal at the Geneva Invention and Innovation Show, the alphabet that bears my name is now in the international implementation phase. ” Tudor Paul Scripor, the inventor of The Scripor Alphabet, the tactile standardization of colors.
Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment.
