BEHIND THE DESIGN: A Trio of Pinot

(L-R) Ryan Giles, operations manager; Paul Drogemuller, owner; Ben Drogemuller, logistics and distribution manager; Bob Hay, vineyard hand; Jess Taylor, office administrator; Nick Rice, assistant winemaker; and Kathy Drogemuller, owner, receiving their PACKWINE award from Grapegrower & Winemaker editor Hans Mick

The wine evolved from a crazy idea and now the packaging of Paracombe A Trio of Pinot has been recognised as matching the quality of the product in the bottle by claiming the inaugural National Wine Centre of Australia People’s Choice Award.

“It’s a thrill and an endorsement that we got it right and it is well loved,” said co-owner of Paracombe Wines, Kathy Drogemuller. “People do genuinely have passion and feeling for it because they voted for it. To me, the people’s choice is really what counts in the marketplace. “It’s the people who decide to pick up the label and to buy and support your product because they like the packaging and often it’s the packaging that introduces someone to your wine. “Then, of course, if they drink the wine and they love it, that flows on.”

Starting from a crazy idea of Kathy’s to release a sparkling rosé as she could see a potential in the market for it. Paracombe’s winemakers then brought the product to fruition but, thus, it needed a label. “I wanted something which would capture hearts and minds, that was beautiful, and portrayed the wine in an elegant and stylish but fun, contemporary (way and) old world,” Drogemuller said. “I know that’s trying to achieve a lot but that was the idea.” She also drew upon the young and creative mind of graphic designer Milly Howell and Gavin Klose who designed Paracombe’s original label to maintain that integrity.

“I had thought of a vine leaf on the label with rose gold and embossed, and water embossed so that when people saw it, it was raised so they would want to pick it up and feel it,” said Drogemuller. “The colour rose gold embossing portrayed what was in the bottle and so that was where that came from. “Then the funny thing was Milly was working on the design and she was doing bunches of grapes and Gavin came in with his input of how to have the logo and then I was sitting in my dining room one night and there was a photo frame of us pouring over the kids when they were young and that had the vines, with the three bunches of grapes.

“I thought, ‘boom, that’s it’, so I took it to Milly and said ‘Hey, this is it. This is what you need to do’.” The final design embodies the Paracombe brand in a respectful manner, keeping its distinctive logo that consumers already know and have followed for so long, and it looks good on a bottle shop or restaurant shelf. It is also the first wine in the world made from the three Pinot grape varieties, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, especially in a sparkling rosé format, which gives greater meaning to the three grape bunches design on the label.

Popular amongst both male and female consumers and all ages, at an affordable price point (retailing at $28), its wide market appeal is already being seen locally, interstate and internationally, with Thailand proving successful and other Asian markets, hopefully, to follow suit. The wine itself is for celebrations, picnics, lunches, weddings, birthdays and parties – the good times in life – and the label fits those occasions perfectly.

 

National Wine Centre of Australia’s People’s Choice Award

This was open to public votes with all entries across the six categories vying for the title. More than 800 votes have been received with the three most popular choices making the shortlist.

SPONSORED BY NATIONAL WINE CENTRE OF AUSTRALIA

The National Wine Centre of Australia (NWC) is one of Adelaide’s premier event and conference facilities, boasting award winning services in catering, audio visual technology and event management.

Located on the edge of the CBD and adjacent the picturesque Botanic Gardens, the Centre offers Australia’s largest tasting room experience, dining, interactive wine education, group tours and wine courses.

As the home of the nation’s wine collection, the Centre offers wine lovers an unparalleled opportunity to expand their knowledge and enjoy the rich diversity of varieties produced in Australia.