"The face of Hudson Valley Wine" - Wine Label Competition Winners

On Wednesday at the Roger Smith Hotel I attended the judging of the first ever "The Face of Hudson Valley Wine" wine label competition. Hudson Valley Wine Magazine did a wonderful job creating and executing this competition.  There were about 100 wine labels entered in the various categories.

The judges were: Gorden Kaye, Editor and Publisher of Graphic Design USA; Robert LaValva, Director and Founder of the New Amsterdam Market in NYC; Mark LaRocca, President of LaRocca Branding & Advertising; and Melissa Ifkovits, Wine Sales Consultant for Southern Distributors.

Wineries entered their labels in 7 categories:

• Best Use of Illustration
• Best Limitd Edition
• Best Use of Photography
• Most Recognizeable as a Hudson Valley Wine
• Most Unique Name
• Most Memorable

The competition was the first of its kind for Hudson Valley Wine.  The labels in each category were judged similar to the way wine is judged in a competition.  Judges awarded points on a 1-10 scale based on:

• Originality - How unique is the label? Compared to others in its category?
• Style - Is the label contemporary and in good taste? Include the label’s production value.
• Composition - Are the elements of the label appealing to look at and well-balanced?
• Legibility. - How clear is the label’s messaging?

There are some very creative and interesting labels that are on the bottles of Hudson Valley Wine.   Congratulations go to:   

Best Use of Illustration: Benmarl Winery 2006 Baco Noir (First Place), Hudson-Chatham

Winery 2007 Merlot (Second Place), Brotherhood Winery Ruby Port (Third Place);

Best Limited Edition: Millbrook Vineyards 2006 Cabernet Franc (First Place), Hudson-

Chatham Winery Baco Reserve (Second Place), Brookview Station Winery Hudson River Ridge

(Third Place);

Best Use of Photography: Palaia Vineyards 2007 Cabernet Franc (First Place), Cereghino-

Smith Tarragona (Second Place), Palaia Vineyards 2002 Cabernet Franc (Third Place);

Best Type Design: Clinton Vineyards Embrace (First Place), Clinton Vineyards Cassis (Second

Place) and Hudson-Chatham Winery Pomme Bullé (Third Place);

Most Recognizeable as a Hudson Valley Wine: Benmarl Winery 2006 Baco Noir (First Place),

Hudson-Chatham Winery Hudson River Valley Red (Second Place), Millbrook Vineyards 2008

Chardonnay (Third Place);

Most Unique Name: Cereghino-Smith Eaten by Bears (First Place), Pazdar Winery Hot Sin and

Brookview Station Winery WhistleStop White (tied for Second Place), Clinton Vineyards

Embrace (Third Place)

Most Memorable (overall): Benmarl Winery 2006 Baco Noir (First Place), Cereghino-Smith

Rock ‘n Roll Red (Second Place), Clinton Vineyards Embrace (Third Place).

Honorable Mentions include Stoutridge Vineyards Quimby’s Rosé and Glorie Farm Winery

Jumpin Jazz.

The public will be able to vote for their favorite label in the "People's Choice" at the Shawangunk Wine Trail's Bounty of the Hudson Wine Festival July 24 & 25 at Warwick Valley Winery.  If you aren't in the area there will be online  voting available prior to the event.

Below you will find video of the judges comments along with a photo slide show of the competition.

The face of Hudson Valley Wine - What's in the Label

A label can tell a lot about a wine, it can hold a secret, tell a family story or describe a friend.  How many times have you gone into the wine store and purchased a bottle because you liked the label?  I am guilty of that.  


The time has come for the first Hudson Valley Wine Label Award Competition, "The Face of Hudson Valley Wine." sponsored by Hudson Valley Wine Magazine.   Awards will be given to the best-designed labels in several categories, including: Best Type Design, Best Use of Illustration or Photography, Most Memorable Label, among others. Labels will be judged by a distinguished panel of four top design, branding and marketing industry professionals.  More information on the competition can be found at http://bit.ly/cMzc9m 


Do you judge a wine by it's label?

Wine Label Contest

Glorie Farm Winery is holding a wine label contest for the design of their "Red Quartet" label. The contest will run on 99designs.com from March 15 - March 22.

If you are an artist, or know one, please go to 99designs.com and search under "Glorie Red Quartet." It will explain what they are and aren't looking for. They will also give you feedback during the course of the week so you can tweek your design. The grand prize is $150 if your label is chosen.

Last year they ran a similar contest for a label for their Jumpin Jazz wine. This was the winning label.

Good luck to all of you. Stick figures is about it for me.