Wine with the mark of the beast

Surrey-based design agency Biles Inc was asked by Boutinot, a leading UK wine distributor and producer, to create a wine label for its “monstrously good” Pinot Grigio from Italy.

Creative director Anthony Biles explains the thinking behind the wine label design: “The Badalisc is a mythical creature that legend tells us lives in the woods around the Alpine village of Andrista in Italy, from where he would attack surrounding villages, pillaging and tormenting the communities. The wine is as bright and crisp as the mountain air itself, but something lies beneath: textural layers as deep and complex as the beast himself. We developed a label that was inspired by the contrast of the light fresh crispness with the deeper tones into a world of the subterranean and the dwelling of the beast.

“It wasn’t long before we fell to the depths of Dante’s Inferno, exploring all things diabolic. The label celebrates this dark side, drawing you into the fiendishly detailed line work of the illustration. In fact, the illustration is a representation of Satan in hell, created by Italian artist Sandro Botticelli in 1481. It was kindly provided by Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University.

“The resulting design is one which looks fairly traditional, providing quality perception but that engages the consumer through the subversive content and detail in the illustration at the table, as they explore the fantastic world of Il Badalisc.”

The wine is available throughout the UK in wine specialists, restaurants and through online stores, and retails at around £7.

About Biles Inc.

Biles Inc. is one of the youngest companies to feature in the Design Business Associates top 20 British Design Agencies, having won DBA Design Effectiveness awards twice in the last three years.

A fiercely independent design consultancy, its principals remain very much hands on, to ensure the highest levels of skill, expertise and experience are delivered every time. Servicing a variety of clients including Ella’s Kitchen, Warner Edwards Gin, Nestlé, Superdrug, HSBC, Marionnaud and Boutinot, 

6 April 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor