By Michael Haran
Once again we had wonderful participation in our 4rd annual label contest. We included seven Best-of-Class categories as well as a Sweepstakes winner.
Rutherford Wine Company’s Etched/Painted Category “Predator”
“People don’t realize just how hard it is to come up with a new brand name that is available, said Mark Dolin, Rutherford Wine Company’s marketing director and the person who designed this year’s SFCWC Label Contest’s sweepstakes winner. “Almost anything you can think of is already taken.” Mark decided to use a “ladybug” theme because the consumer friendly insect is an import part of maintaining Rutherford’s vineyards which are all farmed sustainably.
I don’t know how effective, or appetizing, Mark’s comparison of the predator ladybug’s appetite for “fresh aphids and mites” is to pairing a glass of Predator zinfandel with “short ribs or a juicy burger” with consumers but the label is designed to make indecisive wine buyers “reach” for the bottle on crowded wine shelves.
The art work was silkscreened and then “fired” onto the bottle by Bergin Glass in Napa. Design features include a full bottle circumference design and the word “Predator” is 24 karat gold. The 24 karat gold feature is amazing considering a $22.00 price.
Mark is a self-taught design artist which he credits to his time working in New York City, a visual marketing wonderland. “I also need to acknowledge the contributions of Bergin Glass whose manufacturing technique added subtle texture and real gold (24 karat!), and my long-time design collaborator, Eileen Anderson.
We would like to thank all of the wineries that entered this year’s label contest. Some marvelous labels were entered and this strong participation does nothing but add value to the winner’s awards. We would also like to congratulate this year’s winners. Good job all the way around.
Classical Wine Label
Kita Wines 2011 Syrah Camp 4 Vineyard
Designer: CF Napa
Printer: CCL Label Sonoma
Artistic Wine Label
Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards 2012 Rose of Pinot Noir Central Coast
Label Design “created by” Lynn Dolin, graphics by Jan Wolfinger Design
Printer: Labeltronix.
Whimsical Wine Label
Breathless NV Brut North Coast
Series Wine Label
Wargin Wines NV Label Series
Block Wine Label
Lake Sonoma 2010 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley
Designer: Auston Design Group, Emeryville, California.
Etched – Painted Wine Label
Predator 2012 Zinfandel Lodi
Designer: Mark Dolin, marketing director Rutherford Wine Company.
Packaging
Bonfire Wines NV White Blend California Ignite
This year’s judges included Elizabeth Slater of “In Short Marketing;” Dave Miller of “PackagingArts” a wine label and marketing materials printing company; Bev Griesert, design and marketing consultant; Paul and Jennifer Tincknell of Tincknell & Tincknell wine marketers.
Cynthia Adam; Paul Tincknell; Bev Griesert; Dave Miller: Elizabeth Slater; Jennifer Tincknell; Scott Fraser; Bob Fraser; Mike Haran