Design creates a wine label in a single dimension. Finishing brings it to life.
There are many ways to make product packaging stand out. Shine does it. Texture does it. Combining the two can be exceptionally effective. Even when the design is understated.
The designers of Chateau Saint-Roch Corbarol wines understand this balance well. The design isn’t overly showy—a white label dominated by a graphic illustration of a castle (I think) on a hilltop. What elevates it is the finishing.
It isn’t uncommon for wine labels to incorporate metallic foil to accent their branding, as Saint-Roch has done with its logo. That same gold foil is also used to articulate the terrain itself. The hillside shimmers subtly as the bottle moves, catching light in a way that draws the eye without shouting for attention. That’s smart.
What else? Texture.
Texture is underrated. Premium label stock is a solid enhancement. Especially if it’s textured. Embossing is a step up. The embossed, swirling pattern across the Corbarol label recalls Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, suggesting wind and movement across the vineyard landscape. That narrative may escape most but it doesn’t matter. What they will notice is the feel. It adds a tactile element to the experience of holding the bottle. It’s subtle but noticeable.
The back label is not an exceptional piece of design, but there is one thing I love, and that’s the way the features are stacked and boldly brief. No flowery filler. Just the facts. Straight up.
This Corbarol wine is a Côte Du Roussillon blend of Syrah and Grenache. It’s smooth and balanced with flavours of red and black berries. Very pleasant and exactly what you’d hope for if you chose this wine by the label. In my book, that alignment between design, finishing, and the wine inside is the true mark of success.
