Etched Images had a humble beginning. David Lincoln, long-time Napa Valley resident, began etching and painting wine bottles for local Napa Valley wineries in 1989, as a one-man operation. In the beginning, these bottles were used by wineries as donations to local and national charity auctions, such as the Napa Valley Wine Auction. In 1993, Stuart McFarland, also a long-time Napan, left his management position with a large automotive accessory company to join David as a partner. They placed primary focus on catering to local wineries in developing and marketing the unique process of etching artwork into wine bottles started earlier by David. As the popularity of wine grew, so did the number of wineries. To date there are more than 5000 wineries in the United States, and countless others abroad. This has resulted in a proliferation of wine labels on the retail shelves, and more difficulty for the consumer to make a choice.

It was then that wineries started to be on a constant lookout for fresh, eye-catching packaging. They began using outside marketing agencies, high-caliber graphic design artists, unique label materials, new bottle styles and other techniques to make their wines stand out from others. At this point, Etched Images became a "glass decorating" service for the wine industry.

Another Etched Images' innovation is the use of special colored "wax" to create a colored capsule or medallion, affixed to the bottle, often with an imprint of the winery's logo. Another popular technique developed by David Lincoln is the interior darkening (blackening) of bottles to create the image of a full bottle, valuable in effective display. Another attractive adjunct is EI's process of laser engraving logos and messages into wooden boxes for display or as a gift package.

As wine enthusiasts, many of whom are top management/owners of large companies, discovered the uniqueness and beauty of etched and painted bottles, Etched Images began to get orders for wine bottles etched with corporate and personal logos and messages. The etched wine bottle became more than a Christmas gift. It has become a year-round promotional gift used to celebrate special events and milestones.

Event meeting planners are now promoting Napa Valley as an ideal destination for their corporate clients, and etched and painted bottles of wine have become a perfect gift and memento. These planners, and those based from other areas, now comprise an important segment to Etched Images' customer base.

Although there certainly is competition, Etched Images has earned a reputation for high quality design, workmanship, and service, this putting the Company in a position to compete for business from a strong, growing market. Unlike a majority of its competitors, Etched Images has in-house capability for original, computer enhanced design, staffed by skilled technicians and artists, state-of-the-art laser engraving equipment, the more conventional sandblast cabinet etchers, and coloring and waxing techniques seldom found in standard etching organizations. In 1998, the Partners agreed to a buy-out by Stu McFarland. This was based on David Lincoln's interest in starting another company of his own, now named Laser Art Technology. This is not a competing (with Etched Images) organization. In fact, David is making new technology available to Etched Images on a consultative basis.

The company, housed since late 1993 at 1758 Industrial Way in Napa, has relocated to larger, more efficient quarters at the same complex in July of 2001. Etched Images is truly proud of its relatively small but handpicked staff of 25, many of whom have been with the Company since its "humble beginning."

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