Australia’s Wine Industry Design competition now open to creatives, entries close Friday March 30
The Keystone Group, the company behind some of Sydney’s most popular and coolest venues, has announced its partnership with Australia’s Wine Industry Design Competition 2012.
Founded in 1998 by the Association of Australian Boutique Winemakers (AABW), and formerly titled the Label Design Awards this competition has grown and expanded into one of the industry’s premier events bringing a greater awareness to branding and labeling.
Be it simple and inexpensive or outrageous and flashy, labels and packaging communicates with consumers and makes a difference to that all important sale and in many cases is a greater focus for buyers than the wine inside the bottle.
Wine companies of all sizes are invited to enter their bottles and for the first time, designers and design students are invited to submit an entry, mocked up onto an appropriate bottle for a fictitious brand.
Paul Schulte, group director Keystone Group will sit on the judging panel along side some of Australia’s most highly regarded industry experts including Lisa McGuigan, Judith Kennedy, the Herald’s Sue Bennett and Master of Wine Toni Paterson.
Says Schulte: “We’re delighted to be involved with this unique competition, the only one of its kind in Australia. As a venue owner, we understand the importance of presentation which sends a message and gives instant impact, much like the label on a wine bottle, it needs to be appropriate and attractive to the eye.”
The winners will be announced at a VIP presentation reception at The Winery in Surry Hills on the 15th May, 2012 and the winning bottles will be on display at The Winery for one month following the announcement.
Judith Kennedy CEO of Keystone says: “We believe this competition is an essential part of the growth of the Australian wine industry and that it can make a difference in the market place. Our line-up of judges coupled with the outstanding list of prizes puts this show high on the “must do” list for the industry. “
About the Awards:
In 1998 Judith Kennedy, CEO of the AABW founded The Sun Herald Boutique Wines Label Design Awards which continued every second year until 2010. Clear Image has been the major sponsor for the duration and Mainfreight joined as a sponsor in 2008.
Lisa McGuigan has been the Chair since 2008 and is integral in the planning of the new concept in that this is now open to wine companies of all sizes. The Label Design Awards was only for small companies. Not only is the whole industry being invited to take part but also for the first time designers and design students are invited to win a cash prize for their entry.
The AABW also owns and manages the Boutique Wine Awards (since 1996) and the Five Nations Wine Challenge (Since 2003).
Entries close 30 March, 2012.
Judges:
Judith Kennedy CEO; Lisa McGuigan Chair; Graig George, CCL Deputy Chair; Sue Bennett, Editor The Sydney Morning Herald; Chris Osborne, OzeWine; Toni Paterson MW; Paul Schulte, Keystone Group; Julie Vjadia, Tompkin; Chris Soares, Mainfreight; Scott Sharples, Crowther Blayne; Kate Meyer, Meyer Gourmet Foods; Louise Cole, Cambewarra Estate.