“Never judge a book by it’s cover."
Marketers and experienced business people know that whether or not this is “good advice” this is not the reality of how people make decisions. Especially when it comes to wine. Nearly 25 million litres of wine are consumed every year in this world and according to statistics, 100% of purchasers consider the labels and branding of wine very or somewhat important to their decision making. That is a shocking statistic. I even went a step further and polled my own social network and had a tonne of memorable labels that caused them to pull the bottle off the shelf.
You know what this means? Branding matters. So make sure you put a little effort into it, people!
These labels always stand out for me personally. The black and white, cartoon-like graphics and unique and memorable names always beg me to buy.
Fun fact: When you visit the vineyard, you actually get 3D glasses to wear that really make the labels pop.
Those are stock prices from the day the wine was picked. How cool is that?
This winery plays to their nearness to a local California prison. This is the "tough guy"'s first choice, I'm sure, or any man for that batter. (The guy who recommended this one to me has a truly impressive moustache.)
This is just cute. Everyone loves animals!
This was the most recommended by my personal network and I'm happy to say it's a local BC wine (yay pride!) and the first vineyard I personally ever visited. It's artwork is truly unique and interesting.
Resembling greeting cards, these wines say it for you! I personally love the super cute phrases.
Because there's a little freak in all of us, and with the right amount of wine, we might just let it out.
“We carry these wines in our store and they are an always popular choice. They always catch the attention of the browsing wino... looking to try something new. The best part with these ones is, they are great quality wines as well, so people always come back for more. ” - Savannah Vine, Chalk & Cheese Bottle Shop, Brisbane, Australia
These labels are prints of the winemaker’s daughters’ artwork and she gets a cut of every bottle sold.
More beautiful artwork, especially appealing to ladies. Guys, consider serving this on your next date night? Impress her with art and wine!
The artwork here is a little edgy and totally eye-catching. Drinking a wine with a scull on the bottle just makes you feel bad ass.
There are a number of wineries out there whose branding plays to the sexier side of things. Why not pair it with a sexy evening?
This one came highly recommended by a few of the women in my personal network. You might assume this would be offensive to women, but instead, they find it funny and empowering. But guys, might not be a great idea to give to your wife.
And for those beer drinkers out there… have you heard of Brewdog? This would be a pretty unforgettable beer, I'd say.
Now, as an avid wino myself (and one with very passionate wino friends in my social network), I feel it is only right to provide this all too important disclaimer: Just because a wine has a fabulous label, does not mean what’s inside is worth your taste buds or money. But hey, if you don’t have the time, energy or desire to take a wine tasting course and study up on the intricacies of your favourite grape juice, don’t fret. Worst case scenario… just keep shopping and tasting, until you find one that dazzles with, not only fabulous branding, but delicious insides.
And a very important note for all wine makers: Yes, put some time and effort into your branding. It undoubtably will make a difference! But please, for all of your dedicated customers, please—put just as much effort into the wine you bottle up in it.
Cheers everyone! Thanks for tuning in. (I'll admit, this was a fun one to write.)
And special shout out to everyone who helped with the "research" for this piece!
Tell me... what are your favourite wine labels out there?
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