Wine Label Creation Process 02

updated 05 September 2023

September 2023

This post is a follow-on to the first Wine Label Creation Process post, which illustrates a different view into my creation process.

Sometimes I get an idea and zero right in on the final solution, sometimes it takes a few tries, and sometimes it takes a LOT of tries. This post illustrates this last one.

The wine this label is intended for doesn’t exist yet — it’s on the agenda for October’s grape purchase. At this point the plan is to make a Cabernet Franc heavy blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Why am I designing this now? Because the urge struck me.

This wine is inspired by McGregor Winery’s (Finger Lakes NY) Rob Roy Red, which is a similar blend that has a picture of Rob Roy on the label, hence the name and the initial design concept.

I found a few paintings supposedly of Rob Roy (noted Scottish outlaw of the 1700’s), and chose one to start. I tried stretching the background, but that produced an ugly background, so I tried creating a graduated background with the painting on top. It works, sort of, but isn’t what I want. Too dark and dreary.

So I found a different painting with brighter colors, and made a background utilizing colors in his kilt. Better … but still not there.

I found yet a third painting, this one with a frame, and tried centering it. This worked best so far, but the painting lacks oomph.

So I tried a black background. Yow! This works far better, but the painting doesn’t quit produce the effect I want.

So I swapped the second painting in with the red background. Better painting, but not quite there.

Then I tried the black background, and that pops for me. Ok, this is a possibility.

I will ruminate on this for weeks or months, since time is not a rush.

A day later I considered going in a totally different direction. I found a sea battle that looked interesting.

I’ve been doing full brightness backgrounds for the label, but this one will not work for it. None of the sea battles I found would, so I faded the picture.

This one looks great, although I may not use it for this wine. I have other wines that it may work better for, so I’m keeping this one in reserve.

Then … I went in a TOTALLY different direction. A member on WMT posted a couple photos of his vineyard with the morning fog, and it caught my attention.

Sometimes it takes an hour to prototype a label, sometimes less. This one took 2 minutes.

This one may not get used for the CF/CS/M blend, but I’d like to use it. I messaged the owner of the photo and asked permission to use it. Hopefully he’ll grant it.