Wine Packaging & Merchandising design awards

Wines & Vines, Jan, 2000

Results are in for the first global Wine Packaging & Merchandising Design Awards. The competition is organized by Murray J. Lubliner Associates, which also sponsors the Wine Package Design & Marketing Conference.

This year's conference dates are March 23-24 at San Francisco's Nikko Hotel. Winning design entries will be shown and the top winners honored at this year's conference.

Judges (see box on page 130) awarded Best of Show to Design Bridge of London; Landor Associates and Michael Osborne Design, both of San Francisco.

Lubliner organized the design competition at the urging of attendees at the 2nd Annual conference last year. He says "today the wine buying consumer is offered more product and price choices than ever before. How the product is packaged, labeled and merchandised in the retail environment can mean success or failure for a brand. At the same time, advances in printing, label applications and materials make it possible to create design solutions that were only dreams a few years ago."

Gold Medal winners were AQ Australia, Nuriootpa, S.A.; Axion Design, San Anselmo, Calif.; Jeffrey Caldewey Design, Napa; Deutsch Design Works, San Francisco; Estate Wine Label, Napa; Ian Kidd Design, Adelaide, S.A.; Hornall Anderson, Seattle; Lewis Moberly, London; Longview Fibre, Oakland, Calif.; NiebaumCoppola, Rutherford; Spear Inc., Mason, Ohio and Sterling Cross Creative, San Francisco.

Twenty Silver and 25 Bronze winners also were selected.

This year's conference begins with welcoming remarks from Lubliner and Philip E. Hiaring, editor and publisher of Wines & Vines, a sponsor of the conference. The first speaker is L. Gregory Scott, partner with Price Waterhouse Coopers; his topic is "The State of the Wine Industry." (9 a.m. Thursday).

Jim Murphy, creative director, Robert Mondavi Winery, covers "How to Build Better Teamwork for Productivity and Profit (9:45 a.m.).

"How to Make Market Research Pay off for You" is the topic of Christian Miller, Sebastiani Vineyards (10:45 a.m.).

Lynn Keller of HKA, Inc. and Therese Corrigen-Bastuk will discuss "How to Prepare A Top-Selling Brand for the Millennium."

Prof. Armand Gilinsky of CSU/Sonoma will present the design awards at the luncheon (12:30 p.m.).

Harry D. Alhadeff of Washington Hills Cellars and Stephen Black of Stephen Black Design kick off the afternoon with "How to Breathe New Life into a Regional Brand."

"Packaging and Advertising: The Critical Link" is the subject for Vince Quilici of GGC&V, San Francisco ad agency (2:45 p.m.).

Following the beverage break, Mark S. Evans of Negotiants USA, Inc. of Napa discusses "What the Explosive Growth of Australian Wines Means to You." (3:45 p.m.).

The day's final session features Scott Podolsky of Wine Institute in Washington, D.C.: "Learn How to Navigate Your Packaging Through BATF Regulations."

The first Friday session (March 24) is "How to Turn an In-House Design Capability into a Creative Powerhouse" (John Giguiere, R. H. Phillips Vineyard, 9 a.m.).

Next, Louis Capitao of W.J. Deutsch & Sons will discuss "Defining the Role of the Importer in the Global Marketplace" (9:45 a.m.).

"Is There a New Wine Category? (Perception or Reality)" is the subject for Ian C. Tostenson of Canada's Calona Vineyards (10:45 a.m.).

Clyde Beffa, Jr. of K&L Wine Merchants, San Francisco, discusses "The Retailer can be one of your Most Valuable Resources." (11:30 a.m.).

Awards Judging Panel

The following judges represent diverse sectors of wine marketing and Murray J. Lubliner Associates and Wines & Vines appreciate their participation:

* Don Brown, director of sales, alcoholic beverages, Albertson's

* Jeffrey Caldewey, principal, Jeffrey Caldewey Design and Marketing

* Lou Capitao, marketing director, W.J. Deutsch & Sons

* Chrys Cappadocia, vice president marketing, Andres Wines

* Ralph Colonna, principal, Colonna, Farrell Design

* Paulette A. Nolan, graphic services manager, Allied Domecq Wines, USA

* Joe Visola, vice president creative services, E&J Gallo Winery