The cover artwork on Randall Wicomb’s newly released CD reflects the craftsmanship and intricate detail that went into each song.
Êrens is jy, is the title of a collection of 13 published love poems by renowned South African poets. As a tribute, each poet is honoured with a postage-stamp artwork and a paragraph about their life in the cover booklet.
“What is behind the Swartland Independent Producers organisation? It represents the coming together of a group of like-minded wine-growers in the Swartland region of the Western Cape. What they share most of all, these producers, is a wish to make wines that are a true expression of their origin - of the broad landscape of the Swartland. Wines that, though coming from different cellars and sometimes different areas, will all speak of the greater landscape - wines that will, in a sense, bear the DNA of the region.”
The Flying winemaker, he’s just that, simply because there aren’t any vines in Belgium from which to make wine, yet! Shaun Crombé with his infectious passion for rugby, great tunes, fun times & crafting wines.
We did a label with Shaun’s history in layers of earth, added some random objects and a hints of tasting notes.
“You’ve probably encountered the work of Fanakalo, formed by this young Stellenbosch design trio, without even realising it (though you would certainly have admired it), most likely while picking out a bottle of wine at the local liquor outlet. Founded in 2009, one of Fanakalo’s first clients wasBoer & Brit, and it has gone on to design eye-catching labels for several other wineries.”
This was new to us; an interview via Facebook. Free-Run Friday, Platter’s new social media feature, entered its second week with a fascinating and informative conversation with Fanakalo, about the state of the art of wine label design.
We did the logo and website design for Natte Valleij Farm.
“Natte Valleij oozes a sense of history with its homestead, old wine cellars, brandy stills, magnificent mature gardens with ancient trees, pergolas and ponds, all surrounded by whitewashed walls.”
We first test-drive the wine…. hehe! Personally, music and visual culture. Old cigarette papers and matchbook designs from the 1920’s, interesting signage, etchings, hand typography, retro surf culture, good coffee, etc. But in general we take on each brief for what it entails or requires, and then go off in search of visual inspiration that fit the concept.
Inspired by acorn-induced headaches, slumbering students and slowtown camaraderie, City of Oaks is an exhibition where Fanakalo, a design and illustration studio just up the road from the Slee Gallery in Dorp Street, pays homage to their humble, yet historic surroundings with limited edition prints, lasercuts and designs. With the aid of some hyperactive squirrels, caffeine from the various local coffee shops….. and hopefully some aircon by the time that you read this, Fanakalo will let you see the Eikestad through their never-too-serious eyes.
Join us at 18:30 on the 1st of March at 101 Dorp Street for a glass of wine (…duh) and some nuts… Ends 14 March.
The great wines help — many of them on a par with top international labels. Over the years I’ve seen how South African wine-making has changed; for a while, some of the more earthy vintages lost a bit of character as they chased international markets, but they are back to producing really interesting wines. It’s well worth dropping in to some of the boutique wineries for a tasting. I’m a particular fan of what is happening with the chenin blanc grape at Badenhorst in Swartland. I also like the distinctive and characterful labels coming from Eben Sadie’s winery in Swartland, and those of Boekenhoutskloof.
The challenge was to create a logo that can print very small and still be legible. For the website we used a large amount of copy to become part of the layout/design, we ended up doing a newspaper vibe with big text and halftone sepia images.
The De Kleine Wijn Koöp is a circle of friends, made up of sommeliers and graphic artists. As we deal with wine on a daily basis, every now and then we stumble upon a wine too small to fit into a particular winemaker’s series or simply too strange and unique to suit the commercial market. We then buy in these wines and dress it in a more ‘flip-flops and boardshorts’ than ‘black-tie’ fashion.
De Kleine Wijn Koöp is a playground for our creative expression, outside of the conventions of the wine-shop’s shelf. Unique and once-off wine offerings…
“Eric Todd’s products are produced in the picturesque Elgin Valley by a passionate food lover and farmer, using only the best fruit and chillies from his own crop. The idea for the manufacturing of these sauces was inspired by dear friends and great food connoisseurs, Eric and Winsome Todd from Nelspruit.”
The Bollinger Exceptional Wine Service Award has been established to bring focus and recognition of achievement to the growing group of professional wine waiters in South Africa.
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