Haven't voted yet? Click here to choose which bottle you prefer.

PS : Note: the first label was made by a graphic artist; the second and third were pasted together with my own means after brainstorming session

Dear wine lovers,

Ready to help us design our label ?

In reference to the opinion poll listed at French-Word-A-Day and while designing the wine label, please keep in mind this information :

Besides personal reasons, we have chosen the name Rouge-Bleu for the following points :
- The colors (red and blue) are typical of Provence (red earth, blue sky, Mediterranean sea...)
- The red is the color of our wine, the blue, the color of our grapes

Have a look at the different posts on this blog to infuse your creativity with our wine phylosophy : Working organically and with a biodynamic influence.
The terroir (combination of soil, climate and local tradition), the rouge-bleu colors, and a modern design should be the "ingredients" of this label.

The label should be rectangular : the width size at 7 cm (2.8 inches) and 10 cm (4 inches) for the height.

Please send your wine art labels before September 30th to [email protected] (JPEG format at 200-300 dpi). All labels will be viewable online so that readers may vote on them in the October poll.

Please post any questions in the comment box or by email and I will respond.

Cheers,

Jean-Marc Espinasse - Domaine Rouge-Bleu

Comments

[Wendy W.]

I think it's simple and very tasteful although I would have preferred to know what color the bottle is.

[Marika U.]

I think the first label stands out, the others are forgettable. But you might look at other designs also. You can't keep changing labels annually, so it should to be perfect.

[David C]

Keep in mind your target market (both locale and demographic) when choosing your label. A contemporary design will appeal to a younger demographic. A more tradiotional label will appeal to an older or more conservative buyer.

[Marie La Salle]

I did not understand the ROUGE BLEU name until I read it. Why not do a stylized glass of red (your color) wine with blue grapes (again stylized) superimposed over it. Maybe the whole against a yellow background.... or Lime green... something to pop the wine and attract the consumer's eye. I notice that for dinner gifts from guests we often get bottles with catchy titles (Barefoot, Old Man, etc.) or with cute graphics. Many people don't know much about wine.... OK many people I know in suburban Georgia don't know much and a catchy label makes a big difference. I hate the middle one... too fussy, and think the first one is better... but still needs zing.

[Linda Comire]

Not exactly perfect yet (maybe a little too simple/modern for what I'd expect from a vineyard in France---It looks alot like labels from here in North America),but it's the one I'd be drawn to first.
En tout cas, Bonne Chance!

[Janet]

I very much like the idea of the rouge-bleu label. However, to me, it looks like the draft of the idea. I would like to see the blue and red be in richer tones and would like to see the name in a richer, more sophisticated looking font. And where you have that cirular design crossing over the two colours, I would like to see an exotic photograph of your grapes.

[marti]

The name is perfect! I like the first label alot, very contemporary, it just needs a bid more punch.
I agree that many people buy wine (in the US anyway) because of the label and then return to purchase and recommend when the wine is great!!! I do have a few ideas and will give it a try.

[Melissa]

Je préfère le premièrement l'un, les autres sont un petit aussi...ordinary
Peut-être les couleurs d'étiquette devraient être plus saturées, un plus profond rouge et un bleu de plus de "grapey"?

Bon chance!!

[Holly H]

I think the first one is the best--it's more eye-catching. I agree with the comments that the label and the name will sell the wine. Perhaps the label should be a modern graphic design of a red and blue bottle of wine emerging seductively from a lipstick tube!

[Nancy Filsinger]

Kristin, I really like the first one. It's contemporary but the little lady-bug adds some whimsy and also is relevant to the organic nature of the growing philosophy. I buy ladybugs every year to battle the aphids who attack my roses! Best of luck to you in your new endeavor. I've enjoyed your book and blog very much. As a matter of fact, I think I will find the information I have received invaluable as my husband has just been assigned a position in France and we are moving there! We'll be moving somewhere between Cannes and Nice near Sophia Antipolis in late October. We will be three years in the cote d'azur before relocating to Dublin. Our friends own Chateau Lafoux near St. Maximin. We would love to know where your winery is so as to stop and buy a few bottles while we are there. Please feel free to email me or visit my blog. I would love to meet you someday. Kind regards, Nancy Filsinger -- www.Nancys-notions.net

[Joan Young]

Many years ago when I attended art school, we were regularly given assignments in our graphic desgn class such as this. Why not ask a class of students to try their hand at designing a label for you? There's actually an art school (the Savannah School of Art) in Lacoste, not far from you. Though I'm not sure whether they teach graphic design.

[Bruce]

I prefer the first label, but am not sure about the circular part of the design. Does it have a meaning? Also, a lot of people have difficulty focusing on the red-blue combination so the shades you pick will probably be important. Bonne chance.

[annabelle storfer]

I think this is a work in progress, but so important, as many people, particularly in North America, choose a wine based on the look of the label.
#1: too modern, not "classy" looking.
#2: better; make the picture a little smaller and add info. on the region,etc. on the front label.
#3: will most people understand the significance of the moon and ladybug?

Looking forward to the October poll. Bonne chance, Jean-Marc et Kristin!

[Denise Balestrino]

Monsieur, Je me permets de vous suggerer la couverture du livre de Mme Espinasse comme etiquette de votre vin. L'image est belle et represente le Midi ainsi que les efforts collaborateurs de votre famille.

Bonne chance. Denise Balestrino

[Paul]

Hi Jean-Marc, I am not crazy about any of them, but the third comes closest to something for your market and product. I am assuming that you will not have enough volume for export, so your client will be the more traditional French buyer. I would be very careful about being too avant-garde. Also, your domaine name should be larger for easy recognition - you are going to call it Domaine Rouge-Bleu, aren't you?

[Elaine Hamat]

Hello Jean Marc,
sorry to say, I'm not wild about any of them. They remind me of the labels I see on bottles of home made wine. The kind people print up in those Brew-Your-own establishments. Just a little....amateurish (ouch! sorry). In general, I don't gravitate to bottles with pretty pictures and bold graphics because to me, they seem a bit gimicky. I prefer a classic, subtle style of label, with grape information and subdued colours. I know that is a challenge given that you want to encorporate the Rouge Blue colours...and I realize you also want to make the bottle stand out...but maybe that can be done in a more subtle style, like in a border and / or banner . I'm no artist but I do buy a LOT of wine. Anyway, that's my 2 centimes worth. Aren't you glad you asked?!
EH

[Kathy]

Initially, I chose the third one because I like the label best, and totally disliked the second. The second one seems too busy and the colors seem drab. But the more I looked at them I noticed the eye goes first to the first one----because the two colors "pop." (the new buzz word in design!!!!) Therefore, I believe the consumer's eye would be more drawn to that one. I believe that what ever you decide, it may not be all about the picture necessarily----but more about what catches one's eye.

[Curtis]

i think i like label one (from left to right)... a thin a little white color would be Ok too!?!?

[Peter A Muth]

Hello...I am a friend of Curtis & Susan Beohnstedt (I work with Curtis) and I voted for the red/blue label but I did want to give my opinion. I do think the red/blue label is the most eye-catching BUT it gives me a "hard" feeling like it should be a full-bodied Merlot. Your Wine name, "Rouge-Bleu" has a "soft"/"light" sound to it because that's probably what it is. The bottle on the right conveys that "softness" (if you will) but it is NOT as eye-catching. So, I guess I am suggesting that something "soft" be added to the red/blue bottle to convey the Wine-type while maintaining the eye-catching appearance.

[Georgia]

I agree with the comments by annabelle. Is there a reason you do not include the grapes, your name, date, location, or name of the vineyard? It might look more professional with more information. (not so fly-by-night) Good luck!

[MNV]

Hi...I'm a Phoenix reader. I've enjoyed reading about your 'adventure'. I love the name you've chosen & the story behind it. I like the third label because it seems to me a 'fit'. However, it doesn't 'pop' like the first one. The first one 'pops' but doesn't seem to 'fit'. I think half the fun of shopping for wine is the label. Sometimes we find a good wine & sometimes we don't. That's life! I look forward to seeing all the new designs & voting in October.

[Allisa Imming]

Hello Jean-Marc, Honestly, the name is nice. It doesn't seem to 'grab' me, but that's okay. Like you said, it's personal and it's really all about what's inside. My preference is for the 'left' bottle, but possibly with elements of the 'middle' bottle. The colors, I don't like. These shades of these two colors don't look good together to me. Putting them together on the diagonal is effective, and simple and provides space for your vintage details. I am very caught on the photo posted of the wine bush for Kristi's Sobriquet story. I wonder if your graphic artist could sketch an outline of the vine-bush (in black?) and lay it over your red-blue field. Then, get rid of the little artist's palette(?). Michael and I wish you the best of luck!!

[Fred Ingham]

I still prefer the left one. It's interesting to learn from the comments that some people don't recognize the ladybug - thinking it's an artists palette or just an abstract circular graphic item. Maybe there's a way to make the ladybug standout more? The ladybug is an important part of the story - it represents organic farming, and most people think ladybugs are cute - it adds appeal to the label.

Blessing on you all, whatever you choose to do about the label. Can you believe you're about to crush your first vintage?!? Enjoy the ride!

Fred

[Cheryl]

I love your wine's name Rouge-Bleu and both of you make such a wonderful contribution to my (thrice-a-week) life, but I think all of these labels take the color identity too much literally. A new winery hoping to break into many different types of markets needs a brand with stylish, punchy, sophistication - memorable yes - but with an identity that will not "date" it and instead allow it to have lasting appeal twenty, thirty years from now.

With apologies to your graphic designer and the 44% of people who prefer it, number 1 is too cartoonish and does not express the soul of Provence or the alchemy of wine making. Also, those particular red and blue colors are trying too hard to be cute - they are not rich enough to truly express the depth of the grape's beauty, the richness of the red wine's flavor. Keep your graphics classy (but not classic), with a small centered iconic image that is then centered in a medium square of red over blue (like the Rhone Valley label) but do not bleed solid red and solid blue to the edges of the label. Sorry if I sound so opinionated - I design for a living and have such strong optimistic feelings for your success, and know that remarkable good fortune and deep prosperity (measured by many things) will continue to come to you and your family.

[cheryl]

One more thing (goodness, I'm really invested and pesky this morning) the RED of the COTE D'OR book and even that BLUE have the presence I was trying to describe. Further, those colors SAY red wine from gorgeous blue grapes. Those colors you could take to the edges (with punchy graphics spanning and centering the name). Further deux, Those colors say "France" in a most magnificent way. People do buy unknown wines by label and those colors with established identity give you a strong foundation. Whew! I am going to stop now. Blessings .....