Just two friends wanting to do something different

With nothing in their arsenal except passion, creativity, energy, and a single wine vat, Brenden and Etienne started Vinoneers, the umbrella company for the brand Orpheus & The Raven in 2010. From the onset, this creative duo wanted to offer wine consumers something different, and so the seed for a wine label that would be “an assault on the senses” was born. The labels were designed by BRAVO design and offers stand-out details: they ‘wrap’ around the bottles in a seemingly continuous fold of energy, depicting detailed sketches inspired by the Greek play Orpheus in the Underworld. Each wine in the range features a dramatic hand-drawn, baroque-style sketch in the style of 16th century German artist Albrecht Dürer, with Orpheus and his sidekick, Raven, depicted on each.

Etienne, whose musical talent is represented with Orpheus and his lyre, says that the labels perfectly captures the winemaker’s journey as artist: “Every label in the range is a unique piece of art, and represents the processes required to develop a brand from concept to conclusion, and also the artful transformation from grape to wine.” To date, this artist’s portfolio includes a Chenin Blanc, the 42 Red Blend, Pinotage Nr. 7 and the Last Swansong Gewürztraminer, and can be purchased via online wine retailer, Port2Port.wine.

No stranger to awards, Orpheus & The Raven labels has just been announced as the runner-up in the international Drinks Business Awards for Best Design & Packaging for Wine 2020. Also have been the recipient of critical acclaim in the past: it won the Grand Prix award at the local 2018 Winemag Wine Label Design Awards, and three Gold Medals at its 2019 awards – more than any other producer.