Surprisingly, I haven’t been asked to do many wine labels – but I’m quite happy with the one I have done so far. Back in 2011 I was commissioned by Fluid Design to create a label for Treasury Wines to adorn their new Pinot Noir ‘Fickle Mistress’ produced in Marlborough, New Zealand.

Featuring cheeky little New Zealand Fantails, our enigmatic bottle-shouldered Mistress features a bespoke grape leaf pattern and red ribbon type.

An explanation of the approach and unusual name is mentioned in the following review circa the wine’s first release:

“New label out of the Treasury Wine Estates stable. Affordable Central Otago pinot noir. It is intended – this is a wonderful sentence – to “appeal to consumers with its quirky and niche NZ branding that is visually engaging and will prove to be a wonderful conversation starter when dining and drinking.” The name refers to the fact that pinot noir is generally considered to be a “fickle mistress” – in the vineyard.”   – Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front (16/MAY/2012)

Checking out her whereabouts nowadays, I’m happy to say she is still around, and has also blossomed into a Rosé!