Ring Around the Rosé - Hand-made Collage

The success of Annie Greensprings Sparkling Wines, especially with underage drinkers spurred the maker to target an increasingly younger demographic. For those who came of age in the early-1970s, the company's famous Ring Around the Rosé commercials became a staple of Saturday morning television. Children as young as four were enthralled by images of little kids tumbling and stumbling their way around a giant glass of Annie Greenspring's Strawberry Rosé to strains of an updated version of the nursery rhyme that went:

Ring around the rosé
We're feeling warm and cozy
Smash-ed Smash-ed
We all fall down

To be certain, some parents did not allow their children to partake of the nominally intoxicating 3% alcoholic beverage, but these were the same squares who prohibited their toddlers from smoking. Critics of the commercials objected to them on the grounds that they encouraged underaged drinking. Representatives from Annie Greensprings countered that beginning alcohol consumption at the earliest possible age fostered essential social skills for junior high school. Ultimately, the commercials fell victim to new legislation that outlawed advertising liquor to minors before noon on weekends. Moved to a later time slot, the ads were rarely seen and soon were pulled all together. Still, for those who can muster the memory, there was nothing quite like it ever after.