Crafting Excellence: The Labelmaker's Striking Design for Orbelia's Premium Wine Brand

The Via Aristotelis Barrel Selection stands as the latest and most precious addition to Orbelia's ever-expanding collection. This top-tier premium brand is meticulously crafted from just two handpicked barrels, embodying a commitment to limited batches, unwavering attention to detail, and the pursuit of extraordinary wines. It transcends being a mere upgrade to the existing Via Aristotelis range; it's a dedicated endeavour to transform each sip into a miniature treasure.

The creation of this wine packaging design was no small feat, presenting a formidable challenge. Firstly, it was conceived for exceptionally ambitious premium wines, and secondly, it pushed the boundaries of competition within the company itself. Most of Orbelia's wines are conceived under Jordan Jelev’s direction, steadily elevating the brand's prestige. With the Via Aristotelis Barrel Selection, he has set a new pinnacle for this producer, albeit just for now. The outcome is a striking package adorned with an eye-catching label that harmoniously blends paper and metal into a single, captivating image. The label invites wine enthusiasts to unravel an array of intriguing details with each and every pour.

Today, we have the privilege of delving into the mind of the creator, Jordan Jelev, “The Labelmaker”, who will walk us through the intricate design process, unveiling the artistry and innovation that brought the Via Aristotelis Barrel Selection project to life.

The Project

The Via Aristotelis Barrel Selection is the newest and most precious gem in Orbelia’s growing portfolio. Intended as a top premium brand, it consists of only two selected barrels. Limited batches, attention to every detail, outstanding wines—this is the philosophy behind this new product. It is not simply an upgrade of the existing Via Aristotelis brand but a professional attempt to create a wine that will turn every sip into a small treasure.

The Challenge

I won’t be able to tell you everything behind the creation of this wine packaging, but this project was a real challenge. First because it was designed for very ambitious premium wines, and second because projects like this throw you into competition with yourself. Most of the wines at Orbelia were designed by me, and step by step we have raised the level, making more and more prestigious brands. With the Via Aristotelis Barrel Selection, we set the highest level for this producer. For now.

The Execution

Bottle – we picked the Bordeaux version of the incredible Antik bottle by Saverglass. The Orbelia premium brand used the Burgundy version of the same Antik bottle, so this time it was quite logical to use its tapered brother. This bottle has a strong presence and a unique, attractive look that complements elegantly the feeling we were aiming for in this wine packaging design.

Sealing – we used black semi-matt sealing wax. Every bottle is manually dipped in melted wax, like they did in the old days.

Paper – I picked one of my favourite papers by Arconvert, the Ispira Nero Mistero. Produced in a natural black semi-matt colour, this paper corresponds visually with sealing wax and blends elegantly with the deep glossy black of the glass bottle.

Print – I love to play with different aspects of the black colour, and this time I used high-build transparent varnish to print the Barrel Select title against the black paper background. The Via Aristotelis text is stamped with white hotfoil. The linear pattern in the top half of the label is printed with black glossy ink and then debossed, which makes it look like carved grooves.

Together with the diagonal shape of the label, this pattern is taken from the original Via Aristotelis label to visually indicate the origins of this new wine packaging design.

At the top of the label, we reserved a special place for the gold octagonal seal with the embossed VA monogram on it. In fact, we used embossing and debossing on this metal seal to achieve the maximum possible 3D effect.

The Result

The result is a stunning package enhanced by an eye-catching label that combines paper and metal in one unique image and gives wine enthusiasts the opportunity to discover more and more new details with every pour.

Thank you, Jordan, for generously sharing your expertise with our readers. Your insights have enhanced our understanding and appreciation of the artistry behind the Via Aristotelis Barrel Selection packaging.

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