Australian labels sweep 2018 Wine Design Awards

Drinks design agency Denomination swept the board at Drinks International’s Wine Design 2018 awards, winning six categories – as well as the overall Supreme Champion for the second year running. 

Denomination won 11 of the 21 medals awarded, including the Supreme Champion prize for its work on Margaret River's House of Cards Sparkling, which has an identity reflecting the annual gamble its winemakers take as they play the hand nature deals them.  

The agency won gold awards and category wins in the following:  

>> Design for Sparkling Wine (individual product): House of Cards Sparkling

>> New Design of a Wine Brand (individual product): Farm Hand Shiraz

>> New Design of a Wine Brand (product range): Elephant in the Room

>> Repackaged Wine Design (individual product): Trentham Estate

>> Repackaged Wine Design (product range): Waterton Hall

>> Alternative Wine Packaging Design (individual product): Pinot Pinot Pinot Grigio Sparkling Can 

The company also secured a gold award in the New Design of a Wine Brand (individual product) for its work on Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Sauvignon.   

There were also silver medals for Denomination’s work on Hootenanny Sauvignon Blanc in the New Design of a Wine Brand (individual product), Taylors Sparkling in the Design for Sparkling Wine (individual product) and T'Gallant in the Design for Sparkling Wine (product range).  

Finally, Denomination received a bronze award in the New Design of a Wine Brand (individual product) for Elsewhere Vineyard Pinot Noir.  

Award entries were judged by an expert panel comprising wine retailers, wine writers, designers, art directors and PR and marketing specialists, led by Drinks International editor Christian Davis. They were looking for how well entries executed on their objectives and the initial impact of their work, together with its originality, creativity, innovation and relevance to its target market. 

Judge Bill Rolfe, director at wine sales and marketing company 10 International, was particularly impressed by Supreme Champion winner, Denomination’s design for House of Cards’ 2015 ‘The Royals’ Queen of Diamonds – Blanc de Blancs. He said: “It’s clearly had a lot of thought put into its design. I can see it doing well in Las Vegas if it can get the distribution.”   

Rowena Curlewis, CEO, Denomination, said: “We’re delighted to have done so well in this year’s Drinks International Wine Design awards, not just for ourselves, but for our clients, with whom we have developed wonderfully creative partnerships. At Denomination, we always focus on craft, storytelling and innovation in our work – and we’re not afraid to take risks and challenge convention when we feel that’s the right thing to do. We feel really proud to be acknowledged by such a distinguished panel of judges.”