Nearly 100 labels in seven categories were submitted for the first-ever Vini Awards: The Face of the Hudson Valley, a wine label competition sponsored by the publishers of Hudson Valley Wine Magazine.
A panel of four industry professionals in the fields of design, branding and marketing rated the labels on originality, style, composition and legibility.
Results by category:
Best Use of Illustration:
1st: Benmarl Winery 2006 Baco Noir
2nd: Hudson-Chatham Winery 2007 Merlot
3rd: Brotherhood Winery Ruby Port
Best Limited Edition:
1st: Millbrook Vineyards 2006 Cabernet Franc
2nd: Hudson-Chatham Winery Baco Reserve
3rd: Brookview Station Winery Hudson River Ridge
Best Use of Photography:
1st: Palaia Vineyards 2007 Cabernet Franc
2nd: Cereghino-Smith Tarragona
3rd: Palaia Vineyards 2002 Cabernet Franc
Best Type Design:
1st: Clinton Vineyards Embrace
2nd: Clinton Vineyards Cassis
3rd: Hudson-Chatham Winery Pomme Bullé
Most Recognizeable as a Hudson Valley Wine:
1st: Benmarl Winery 2006 Baco Noir
2nd: Hudson-Chatham Winery Hudson River Valley Red
3rd: Millbrook Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay
Most Unique Name:
1st: Cereghino-Smith Eaten by Bears
2nd: Tie between Pazdar Winery Hot Sin and Brookview Station Winery WhistleStop White
Most Memorable (overall):
1st: Benmarl Winery 2006 Baco Noir
2nd: Cereghino-Smith Rock ‘n Roll Red
3rd: Clinton Vineyards Embrace
The judging panel consisted of Gordon Kaye, editor and publisher of Graphic Design USA, the monthly trade magazine for graphic design professionals; Mark LaRocca, president of LaRoccaBranding & Advertising Inc. in Rhinebeck; Robert LaValva, founder and director of the NewAmsterdam Market, a public market and civic institution in New York City; and, Melissa Ifkovits, wine sales consultant for Southern Wine and Spirits.
“Brand identity is about creating a relationship between the client and the consumer," LaRocca said. "The consumer has to see some of themselves in the label and in the product. Some of these [labels] ... are exciting ... and will excite their clients and customers, too.”
The award-winning labels in all categories will be published in the Summer 2010 issue of Hudson Valley Wine Magazine, and a portfolio of the winning labels will be made available on the magazine’s website.
A “People’s Choice” label award winner will be decided in July by attendees of the Shawangunk WineTrail’s "Bounty of the Hudson Festival" at Warwick Valley Winery. Online voting also will be available prior to the event.
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