Results of this year’s Label Design Awards for Wine, Beer and Spirits – proudly sponsored by self-adhesive label supplier Rotolabel, in association with UPM Raflatac, Synchron, Kemtek and HP Indigo – were announced online on Wednesday 1 April.
An initiative begun in 2015 by Winemag.co.za, the Label Design Awards have featured wine since inception, beer for the last three years and now, for the first time, spirits. The competition exists to reward outstanding design as an influence on consumer purchases.
Judging criteria include originality of concept, execution, shelf appeal and effectiveness as a piece of communication and the adjudicators are drawn from the fields of graphic design, media and the liquor trade. This year, there were 99 wine entries in total up from 83 in 2019; 10 beer entries down from 31 in 2019; and 30 spirits entries.
‘The brief to the panel is to reward work that triggers an experience rather than simply being beautiful for the sake of beautiful,’ said Christian Eedes, editor of Winemag.co.za and judge. ‘In addition, we wanted to celebrate those brands that were an authentic and original expression of the South African experience wherever possible.’
GOLD AWARDS
Gold awards went to the following:
WINE
Single wine selling for over R80 a bottle
Caravel Wines Bring The Ruckus Carignan 2019 RED
Design firm: Caleb Rodewald Illustration & Design (USA), Caravel Wines (RSA) & WINPAK (RSA)
Single wine selling for over R80 a bottle
Springfield Estate Albariño 2019
Design firm: Jan van Tonder
Single wine selling for over R80 a bottle
Warp + Weft Red Blend 2016 – Babylon’s Peak
Design firm: Multi-Color Corporation
BEER
Single label
Wax On Wax Off IPA – The Kennel Brewery
Design firm: Mannemarak Design
Series
Stellenbosch Brewing Co: The Avenue Lager, Bosch Weiss, Born Free Pale Ale, Hoenderhok Bock, Eike Stout
Design firm: Label by Jane Says and modification for 330ml can by Lana Du Bois
SPIRITS
Single label
Stillman Distillery Graphite Gin
Design firm: Whitespace
Series
De Vry Distillery: Die Droë Rooinek Dry Gin, Die Soet Rooinek Cherry Gin, Die Groot Komunis Vodka, Die Warm Rasta Rum
Design firm: Whitespace
THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
The People’s Choice Awards, the outcome of a process of online voting by members of the public, were as follows:
WINE
Single wine selling for over R80 a bottle
CheNinà 2019 – Openwine and Bernhard Bredell
Design firm: Michael Beckurts
BEER
Single label
Richmond Hill Brewing Company Lion’s Tooth
Ashley Reid
SPIRITS
Series
African Craft Gin: Baobab, Honeybush, Marula – Select Beverage Company
Design firm: Navy Creative
The planned awards function unfortunately had to be cancelled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, but all the award-winning work is available for viewing on Winemag.co.za.
