Before you design your label…
Eight things to consider before starting your new wine label design project that will save you time, money, and frustration.
Consumption: How and where will your wine be consumed? Does your wine product lend itself to being served chilled? If so, make sure your label is printed on wet strength paper! Would your wine be best offered in something other than a 750ml glass bottle?
Distribution: Where will the wine be sold? A wine that will be sold in a grocery store will depend on the label to attract consumers and promote the brand much more than a wine sold exclusively through a tasting room.
Target Market: Have you identified a target market and developed a brand identity that will attract this consumer segment?
Legal Protection: Have you secured a registered trademark so you can protect your brand?
Labeling/Bottling Process: How is your wine being bottled and labeled? Do you know your bottle and equipment specifications/limitations and how that might affect what design and printing method you choose?
Budget: Packaging costs can be expensive, and the label is just one piece of that. Do you really need that foiled and embossed element on the label? Are there more affordable ways to make the design pop? Involve your printer in the process early and often!
TTB Laws: Have you acquainted yourself with labeling laws or consulted a compliance expert? It’s tedious, but worth it. There’s nothing worse than designing a label you LOVE just to have the TTB require you to change it.
Graphic Designer: Hiring a designer experienced in commercial wine label design will make the process go much more smoothly. How do you know if you found a good designer? Well… did they ask you the things in this list? They should have.