Lacoste artist designs Esporão wine labels

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Esporão brand, the Esporão group has partnered with Lacoste’s creative director Felipe Oliveira Baptista to create three original artworks for its new labels; the Reserva and Private Selection lines.

Esporão’s new designs are striking; using natural images from the company’s estate that are given a dramatic, graphic edge to connote a unique sense of place and biodiversity.

Fiona Juby, head of marketing at UK specialist wine agency Barwell & Jones, says: “Esporão was delighted that Felipe agreed to the project. Being Portuguese, he knows the brand and the Alentejo region very well and his personal connection is clearly reflected in the designs. To help him create the images Felipe wanted to develop an intimate knowledge of Esporão’s surroundings, to ensure he reflected the brand’s continuous consideration for its heritage and place in Portuguese winemaking. “

Baptista comments: “This project was very interesting for me; I always like to be involved in partnerships outside my area, away from Lacoste. And this was a project I really enjoyed and which has broadened my horizons. It was a very fluid experience, with no particular problems. I worked closely with Eduardo Aires, Esporão’s designer, who assisted with the final stage of the project. The responsibility was to create something that respected the culture of Esporão, its values and was appropriate for its anniversary.”

To produce the artwork, Baptista spent a long weekend at Esporão sketching and taking photos. He conducted a survey of the terrain, which then became more graphic. Baptista chose to create the images used for the Reserva white in a monochromatic scheme, to reflect his personal experience of the simple, peaceful, natural environment of Alentejo.

The three new labels will premiere on the Esporão Reserva White 2012 and Red 2011 and the Private Selection White 2012 vintage. The white has a RRP of £13.49, and the red £17.99. The Private Selection RRP is £19.49.

Esporão Reserva red 2011 won Gold at the 2014 IWSC Awards, which took place last month. The wine, displaying the new Lacoste label, was the only Portuguese wine to win Gold this year.

For more information on the winery's biodiversity, visit www.esporao.com/en/sustainability/projects/. 

7 July 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor