Spring of 2011, I was approached by the Waldensian winemaker, Dolce Vita, to design a label for their new product, called Brenda’s Bellini. A Bellini cocktail is a mixture of Prosecco sparkling wine and peach purée, originating in Venice, Italy. I never tasted the drink myself, but my son used the mix to make a peach flavored Shirley Temple, and loved it!

Dolce Vita winery is tucked back in the hills of beautiful Hickory, North Carolina. The owners wanted a label that communicated their down home southern values. After a few conversations, I thought that we could treat this label like the classic fruit crate labels from the turn of the century. Back in the old days, fruit were shipped in wooden crates. Lithographed labels were needed to identify its contents. These graphics were usually very colorful and included beautiful illustrations. I am a huge fan of these labels and always looking to work on a project in this genre.

Inspiration often strikes when you aren’t specifically thinking of a solution to a problem. If often sneaks up on you when you are doing something totally uninvolved. While out running an errand, I came across this wonderful farm truck. I immediately thought of the southern rock album cover by the Allman Brothers, “Eat a peach”. The album cover features an old freight truck with a giant peach in the back. I always loved the music from the Allman Brothers and that cover is as classic as that album.

While the song “Blue Sky” played in the background, I designed this label. It pays homage to vintage fruit crates, old trucks and even some of my favorite classic southern rock.

To try a bottle of this great mixer and some recipes, just go to waldensian.com