My Mutt & Lynch Wine Label Design

I have submitted a design for the Mutt & Lynch Winery wine label contest, sponsored by Dog Art Today, http://dreamdogsart.typepad.com/art/vote-here.html.

The winning entry will be made into a label for Mutt & Lynch Winery's limited edition wine that will debut at the winery's Dog Days of Summer on August 8, 2009. This annual event includes wine tasting, dog themed art, and vendor booths to benefit the Healdsburg Animal Shelter. Dogs on leash welcome.

The Wine Label Contest winner will receive one case of the rare and exclusive wine, a featured spotlight on Dog Art Today, and an invitation to attend the Dog Days of Summer in Healdsburg, Sonoma County (travel and accommodations not included.)

Wine Description: A Dry Creek Valley Meritage, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that is aged in 100% French oak for 18 months. Only 500 bottles of this rare and exclusive wine will be produced. The wine will retail for $25 a bottle, with 10% of the sales benefiting the Healdsburg Animal Shelter.

Voting runs until midnight PST, Friday, June 19, 2009. Please take a moment and click on the title of this post and place your vote for old #13.

Artwork Explanation: This is an artwork that was created exclusively for the label contest, it is not a previous work of mine that I have regurgitated for the sake of entering the contest. I included two dogs to represent the two vatietals used to create the wine, and I have put them on and next to a French Oak barrel to represent the barrel used for the aging process. I have also left the work untitled because I know that Mutt & Lynch are infamous for using clever word play for the names of their wines (so I left it up to them). In addition, I left adequate spacing on the top and left so that when text is added, it would not interfere with the artwork.

Episode 4: Fire Road

winelabelreview episode 4 from Richard Ritter on Vimeo.

Rich Ritter takes a look at 2008 Fire Road Pinot Noir.

Washington State Labels in the News

The Senate is now considering a bill that will make it mandatory for Washington State wines to have at least 95% of the fruit in them to have been grown in Washington State. This must be clearly stated on the label. Up until now, only 75% of the fruit and other ingredients in the wines had to come from the place or origin indicated on the label. The Houses' vote was 95-0 in favor of the bill. It is now up to the Senate to pass it.

If the bill passes, labels will have to be redesigned in order to comply with the new law. This may be a catalyst for some new designs as well. We'll see how things pan out. What are your thoughts on this topic?

Blog #1 - The Beginning

Our blog is coming, please be patient. Check back frequently to find out.

In the meantime please answer our first question:
"Does the LABEL on a bottle of wine influence your purchase?" Please include your opinions and any stories you have about how a LABEL influenced you. I look forward to seeing them and responding to your posts.