Art in Label Design

Aside from what’s in the bottle, the label is a window to a wine’s content. Of course labeling laws dictate exactly what information has to be displayed on a wine bottle. Beyond that, it’s all about art. Millions of dollars a year are spent on label design. Graphic and fine artists are often hired to create distinctive, works of art for wines. Many, like the labels of 1^st growth, red Bordeaux, Mouton Rothschild, have become collector items and the original works of art worth a fortune. Numerous wine competitions actually have an award or medal for best label design. The truth of the matter is a poor label can negatively affect wine sales as many consumers buy their favourite imbibe by what the label looks like.