Southern gothic for Australian wines

20 February 2009 | By Popsop Team

Californian designer James Jean offers a fantastic visual identity for Southern Gothic series of Australian wines.

R Wines winery (importer Grateful Palate) was inspired by the culture and foods and all the wonderful textures and sensual pleasures of the American South. The theme was Southern Gothic, and some concepts were brainstormed with owner Dan Philips and designer Beth Elliot. The typography was expertly done by Jeff Keedy. Intricate framing elements are underlined by a bit of foil.

The inspiration came from the region and the time period: kudzu, sprawling oak trees, and antebellum images like the Southern Belle. Labels were created as three triptychs, catering to each type of wine.

“Poor Thing” depicts a forest populated by a trio of characters. A cupid draws back his bow, perhaps in an effort to protect the angel from a hound that has become a hunter. Meanwhile, the oak trees are weeping while witnessing this sad romance, redolent of the heat and humidity of the South.

The blues became the inspiration for the “Didley Bow” series. The characters are all connected to something elemental, if not being elemental themselves. The designer used colors that were evocative of the music, acidic yellows and reds, in addition to bruised purples in the line work.

“Southern Belle” was created to resemble fine china. One tradition of Southern Gothic literature is to subvert traditional stereotypes of the antebellum period. The element of hypocrisy plays a huge role in these characters.