IVWA 2010: Wine Label Stories

At this year's International Wine Awards, Wine Access hosted a label design competition for the first time. We received many entries and our qualified panel of judges picked the top 10 best label designs, but they also select a runner's up list of interesting and engaging labels.

We got in touch with all of the top 10 winners to ask them the story or idea behind their winning label. Here are a few of their responses:

Bear Flag Wines

Bear Flag N/V Red Wine Blend #1

Bear Flag winemakers Hillary Forbess and Beth Cutler began producing their wine blends under the belief that people are tired of the same uninspired, redundant and forgettable wines, and they hired artist Eduardo Bertone to bring their point-of-view to life.

On the red wine label, the theme of authoritarian, traditional, conservative vs. unconventional, imaginative, rebellion is explored. The label has binoculars to signify "Big Brother watching you" and a screw cap and cork, a nod to Old World vs. New World, among other images.

Blasted Church Vineyards

Blasted Church 2009 Gewürztramminer

"On a cool spring morning in 1929, a small crew from Okanagan Falls set off to a deserted mining camp some 16 miles away from home. Their
mission: to dismantle an old wooden church and bring it back to Okanagan Falls.

The plan called for a controlled blast of four dynamite sticks inside the church in order to "loosen the nails". Odd as it may seem, the explosion spared the wood from damage during dismantling.

Save for losing the steeple, the plan succeeded. Now, the 108 year old wooden church stands proudly in its second home of Okanagan Falls."

That is the story of the Blasted Church name, as found on the winery's website. 

When Blasted Church wanted to redesign their labels in 2001, they approached Brandever, who created their new look under the guidance of Creative Director Bernie Hadley-Beauregard. Blasted Church refreshed their labels again in 2009 and the new series will be on exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in late November.

"I would be remiss not to state that great creative work can only be achieved with clients who are open-minded, risk-oriented, and trusting. In the case of Blasted Church, both Chris and Evelyn Campbell granted us complete trust, and carte blanche with the project. The success of Blasted Church is largely attributed to the positive approach that they've maintained throughout the branding initiative," says Hadley-Beauregard.

Henry of Pelham

Henry of Pelham 2008 Sibling Rivalry White

Designed by the Speck brothers and Insite design, they wanted to tell Henry of Pelham story featuring the Speck brothers and have some fun with the packaging, while still making great wine.

Road 13 Vineyards

Road 13 2009 Honest John’s Rosé

Designed by Andrew Von Rosen, "The label is literally who we are: Owner/Farmer Mick Luckhurst is on his tractor with his trusty wiener dog Filbert (Fil) running behind. It is straightforward and bold like the personalities at the winery. Road 13 is the location of the winery and most of our 43 acres of vineyards," says Pam Luckhurst of Road 13.

La Posta

La Posta 2008 
Pizzella Family 
Vineyard Malbec

La posta is where people used to pick up their mail, as well as a tavern and community centre. Farmers would meet at la posta to drink and discuss their farming; Laura Catena named her wine after la posta to reflect the idea of community and bringing people together.

Laura Catena, daughter of Nicholas Catena, doesn't have her own vineyard. However, she has close relationships with many grape growers in Mendoza, whose grapes she uses to make her wines. Catena names the wines after her growers and vineyards.

The Pizzella Family Vineyard Malbec is named after Paula and Pablo Pizzella, who lived in Buenos Aires but moved their family to a traditional vineyard to grow grapes.

Bleasdale

Bleasdale 2008 Second Innings Malbec

"Bleasdale’s founder, Frank Potts, bequeathed the majority of his
business to his sixth son, Frank Potts the second. Frank Potts the second played an important role in Bleasdale’s history, being responsible for building it’s famed Red Gum Press. The image depicts
Frank the second taking part in a family game of cricket on the Bleasdale property.

So Frank the Second being the Second Innings…!"