Three gold awards for wine, two each for beer and spirits in the Label Design Awards 2020.

Results of this year’s Label Design Awards for Wine, Beer and Spirits proudly sponsored by self-adhesive label supplier Rotolabel, in association with UPM Raflatac, Synchron, Kemtek and HP Indigo, were announced online on Wednesday 1 April.

An initiative begun in 2015 by Winemag.co.za, wine has featured since inception, beer for the last three years and now for the first time spirits. The competition exists to reward outstanding design as an influence on consumer purchases. Judging criteria include originality of concept, execution, shelf appeal and effectiveness as a piece of communication and the adjudicators are drawn from the fields of graphic design, media and the liquor trade. This year, there were 99 wine entries in total up from 83 in 2019; 10 beer entries down from 31 in 2019; and 30 spirits entries.

“The brief to the panel is to reward work that triggers an experience rather than simply being beautiful for the sake of beautiful,” said Christian Eedes, editor of Winemag.co.za and judge. “In addition, we wanted to celebrate those brands that were an authentic and original expression of the South African experience wherever possible.”

You can browse the winning work by category here.

GOLD AWARDS Gold awards went to the following:

WINE

Single wine selling for over R80 a bottle Caravel Wines Bring The Ruckus Carignan 2019 RED Design firm: Caleb Rodewald Illustration & Design (USA), Caravel Wines (RSA) & WINPAK (RSA)

Single wine selling for over R80 a bottle Springfield Estate Albariño 2019 Design firm: Jan van Tonder

Single wine selling for over R80 a bottle Warp + Weft Red Blend 2016 - Babylon’s Peak Design firm: Multi-Color Corporation

BEER

Single label Wax On Wax Off IPA - The Kennel Brewery Design firm: Mannemarak Design

Series Stellenbosch Brewing Co.: The Avenue Lager, Bosch Weiss, Born Free Pale Ale, Hoenderhok Bock, Eike Stout Design firm: Label by Jane Says and modification for 330ml can by Lana Du Bois

SPIRITS

Single label Stillman Distillery Graphite Gin Design firm: Whitespace

Series De Vry Distillery: Die Droë Rooinek Dry Gin, Die Soet Rooinek Cherry Gin, Die Groot Komunis Vodka, Die Warm Rasta Rum Design firm: Whitespace

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS The People’s Choice Awards, the outcome of a process of online voting by members of the public were as follows:

WINE

Single wine selling for over R80 a bottle CheNinà 2019 - Openwine and Bernhard Bredell Design firm: Michael Beckurts

BEER

Single label Richmond Hill Brewing Company Lion’s Tooth Ashley Reid

SPIRITS

Series African Craft Gin: Baobab, Honeybush, Marula - Select Beverage Company Design firm: Navy Creative

The planned awards function unfortunately had to be cancelled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic but all the award-winning work is available for viewing on Winemag.co.za.

Join the conversation on twitter: @Winemag #LabelDesignAwards #Wine #Beer #Spirits