Wines of Substance Garners Prestigious “American Graphic Design Award”

Wines of Substance Garners Prestigious

“American Graphic Design Award”
Award Winning Concept and Award Winning Wine

WALLA WALLA, Wash. (September 24, 2009) —Launched in 2007, Wines of Substance’s unique, elemental design has earned both the winery and its design firm, Seattle-based Boxwood, distinctions in branding and Web design from Graphic Design USA magazine.

Waters Winery Founder Jason Huntley, Waters Winery Winemaker Jamie Brown and Gramercy Cellars owner Greg Harrington wanted to craft a new kind of wine: Something entirely fresh; something unusual and compelling. Targeting a young, fresh audience, they envisioned a brand that would graphically highlight each distinct varietal Washington state varietal they produced. The men began working on the burgeoning concept with Boxwood; in 2007, the Wines of Substance concept and label were created.

The theory the founders worked with Boxwood to craft is carried throughout the brand: the name; the innovative, visually striking Web site featuring a “Periodic Table of Washington Wines”—modeled after the scientific Periodic Table of Elements—and the labels and tasting notes.

The most interactive element to the brand is the “Periodic Table of Washington Wines” Web site, which features extensive tasting notes and pairing recommendations in support of the winery’s mission: to educate burgeoning oenophiles one single, varietally correct grape at a time.

This isn’t the winery’s first design nod: In 2008 Seattle magazine gave Wines of Substance the Coolest Wine Label award. Owner Jason Huntley believes the design has been a huge component in the brand’s success, “The aesthetic quality of our wine packaging is an essential part of the overall experience we offer to customers. It has to match the quality and distinction of what we put into the bottle.”

With many accolades under their belt, such as Seattle magazine recently naming the 2007 Syrah as a “Best Reds Under $20,” Huntley is pleased the wines aren’t the only thing being singled out. He affirms that “the design and look of Substance have received nothing but positive feedback from the very beginning, which has definitely contributed to our growing strength in the marketplace.”

About the awards: For more than 40 years, Graphic Design USA has conducted national competitions to spotlight areas of excellence in graphic design: This year’s competition garnered more than 8,000 entries; of those, only 15 percent were distinguished by a Certificate of Excellence.

For more information on Substance, visit www.winesofsubstance.com.

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Media Contact: Kelsey Simmons
Randall PR / (206) 624-5757