Author Archives: Mike Carter

Coma Fredosa

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[F]or the design of this Coma Fredosa as well of that of other wines from the same winery, the “graphic language” of the topography is a key element that offers a series of clues and concepts about the wine and the winery to the spectator/consumer.

The topography helps us locate geographically the estates within the municipality of Colera. The contour lines allow us to understand the distinct orography which requires the grapes to be picked by hand and deeply affects the wine. From right to left across the topography on the label we can travel from estate to estate, starting at sea level to finally reach Albera mountain range.

The GPS point locates the exact position of the winery and at the same time works as an element of interaction and information for the consumer. A simple search of the GPS coordinates puts the local information on the label in the context of the Global geography. Through the topography we can find the location of the estate which produced this Coma Fredosa, as well as the location of the winery’s different estates and some geographic points after which the other wines are or will be named.

Screen printing has been used to recreate the relief of the topography and other elements as if it were topographic braille, which invites the recipient to touch the label and feel the distinct topographic relief. As if it were a “secret game” with the client, in the village of Colera the owners’ family home has been marked in red. The other houses and plots on the “map” are dark grey.

The top of the wine capsule is crowned by a circle/point with different conceptual connotations: it is the GPS point that can be seen on the map, it makes reference to the winery’s logo, it is a graphic synthesis of a grape, it is… The capsules of the various wines share this same element as a conceptual link.

The colours used on the label are a combination of corporate colours, established to maintain a chromatic consistency with the other labels and the graphic image of the winery. In a way this wine label is the prologue that complements and strengthens the concept of all the other labels of this winery.

Design by Kiss Zsombor | Source :: Lovely Package

The Cloud Factory

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[W]ine producer and distributor Boutinot UK, are launching a new addition to their portfolio with the introduction of “The Cloud Factory”, a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. With grapes sourced from the cool Waihopi Valley in Southern Marlborough, the elegant wine is alive with aromas of stone-fruits and minerals, with flavours of guava and lime.

The name itself was chosen to evoke New Zealand, the “Land of the long White Cloud”, with packaging designed by branding and design specialists, Biles Inc.

When asked where inspiration for the label design came from, Anthony Biles, the agency creative director said, “We imagined what a cloud factory might look like, and this is our vision". The unique lettering was crafted by hand to compliment the illustration style and name, using whimsy and originality to create shelf impact, while at the same presenting a compelling consumer proposition around the magical story of this wine.

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Designed by Biles Inc. | Source :: Lovely Package

Tucumen

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[T]ucumen is a new line of wines Budeguer, a family company of immigrants who became major sugar producers in northern Argentina. After more than a century they returned to migrate to Mendoza, the land of vineyards to produce their own wines. The brand is a combination that joins the Argentinean regions of Tucumán (Sugar Land in Argentina) and Mendoza. The design attempts to convey the collage of cultures, styles, colors and textures of two lands as different but united in a single product that represents love for their family origins.

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Design by Guillo Milia | Source :: Lovely Package

Key Trends Shaping Wine in 2012

[W]hen the Wine Market Council released it’s 2012 Market Forecast, the numbers looked encouraging. Overall table wine consumption increased in 2011. Core consumers (those who enjoy wine at least once a week) tally up 58% of the wine drinking population. Of those, 65% drink wine daily or several time a week.

There’s a great deal more basic data, most of it positive for the industry, but what is beginning to take shape as the numbers get parsed and digested is the marked consumption behavior differences based on age.

Millenials (ages 21-34) are showing behavior splits within themselves. Older Millenials (26-34) are highly engaged wine drinkers with 65% drinking wine daily or several times a week. Their younger counterparts come in at around 50% showing similar behavior. The difference is evidenced by age, but the reasons may also be influenced by economics. younger Millenials are hardest hit by our economic downturn, and view wine more as a special occasion experience as the skew higher in preferring spirit consumption.

Social media engagement by wine drinkers is also on the rise. Leading the way are the High End wine consumers, with a strong 60% reporting they used social media as a means of finding information about wine. As might be expected, the Baby Boomers were the least engaged with wine online (26%). Again, there was a strong difference in behavior between young and older Millennials (40% for younger vs 52%, older Millenials). Gen X (35-46) engagement with wine online is strong at 40%.

As we look at age, consider the hot wine-of-the-moment Muscato (and other sweet reds) which experienced a sharp increase in 2011 (up 73%), driven largely by younger drinkers. This trend is being compared to the (then) young Baby Boomers discovering wine in the 1960's. Do you remember Sweet Roses or Lancers or Mateus? These sweet and easy wines were the entree for a generation that ultimately fueled the American love affair with Chardonnay and Merlot in the 80's and 90's.

All this data is strong support for the bright future of the wine industry. But the behavior differences within generational groups point to a need for wine marketers to consider their audience as being made up of different segments, with different behaviors, rather than simply “wine consumers.”

Source :: MJR Creative Group

The Bottle of Wits

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[W]hen you leave design school and look for work with your portfolio of fictitious student projects, half of your interviewers pause to tell you that, in the “real world,” you’ll never have the opportunity to design wine packaging. Much less, packaging themed after one of your favorite movies. Those folks never had the chance to work with Tim League and the team at Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas.

In looking at developing an identity for Alamo’s in-house branded wines, we quickly decided that it would be impossible to sum up everything that makes the Alamo unique in a single packaging system. Why not redesign the wine each year, based on a film that aligns with the brand? Alamo’s 2012 offering became two wines inspired by The Princess Bride, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the film.

As fans will recognize, “The Bottle Of Wits,” is derived from the iconic “battle of wits” scene when Westley first rescues Princess Buttercup from Vizzini and his henchmen. The custom wine line includes two varietals: “Inconceivable Cab” and “As You Wish White”.

The “Battle of Wits” sequence between Cary Elwes and Wallace Shawn easily stands toe-to-toe with “the Sideways Spit Bucket” and “The Silence of the Lambs Chianti slurp” as wine’s shining moment in film,” said Alamo CEO and Founder Tim League. Workshop worked to pack the full scope and wonder of the film experience into the packaging.

Design by Helms Workshop | Source :: Lovely Package

Modern Hen

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[M]illennials have been hit hard by current unemployment levels, so they are drinking smarter. They spend wisely and express their individuality by breaking away from larger, conventional brands. We developed the name and brand “Modern Hen” to go along with their busy, casual lives—filled with work, friends and entertaining. It’s a brand that’s meant to introduce today’s young nesters to Bordeaux-styled wine—and to help them feel like smart shoppers who are saving money. Like its namesake mascot, today’s modern hen works smartly and enjoys a smile at the end of her day.

Design by Force & Form | Source :: Lovely Package

The Garden Route Wine Label Design

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[T]he Garden Route wine label was designed to have genuine provenance and to resonate with anyone who has ever been, or is thinking of going, to South Africa. The bold and simple colour palette and recognisable, confident brand logo, along with the fold-out back label for consumer interaction has been described by James Griswood, Tesco Wine Buyer, as "brilliant" and "nifty"; check out his blog here: The Garden Route Tesco

Design by Barlow Doherty

Unsworth Vineyards

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[T]he Turyk family has long history of summers at Vancouver Island's Shawnigan Lake, and in the fall of 2009, became aware of a small vineyard and winery for sale in the nearby in the South Cowichan Valley. Translated from the local Coast Salish dialect, Cowichan or 'warm land,' is a unique terrior for growing curious new grape varietals. With a forty year history in BC's fishing industry, proprietors Tim & Colleen Turyk felt ready for a new challenge.

In memory of Tim's mother Marjorie, who as a child summered at Shawnigan and subsequently introduced her family to the Lake and the Cowichan Valley, Tim and Colleen settled on the name Unsworth, Marjorie's maiden name, to showcase their wine. The beautiful property with the old farmhouse reinforced their vision of a sustainably managed vineyard and quality focused winery complemented by a small restaurant serving natural local food. Sharing the vision, and property by the end of this year, is Chef Bradford Boisvert and his wife and business partner Leah from nearby Amusé Bistro in Shawnigan Village.

Hired Guns Creative helped the Turyk family with the naming of the winery, branding, wine label design, website design, print design, and signage design. The labels feature silver foil, subtle embossed details, and a die-cut shape that is carried throughout the rest of the winery's marketing materials.

Design by Hired Guns Creative | Source :: Packaging of the World

Grassini Family Vineyards

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[I]n 2002, the Grassini’s established a family vineyard in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, California. A simple crest with a ligature of the number 5 and the letter G was designed with inspiration from the five children. After several successful harvests, the family knew it was time to take the crest and build a more robust brand expression with Duffy & Partners—one that would more aptly reflect all that the vineyard and its harvests symbolized.

New bottle design components include metallic silk-screened bottles, individually signed and numbered labels and hand-dipped wax seals. The Grassini Family Vineyards striking new bottle design by Duffy & Partners is now on the market.

Design by Duffy & Partners | Source :: Packaging of the World