Liter label for Count Georg Von Kuenburg’s Schiava, an indigenous variety from Alto Adige

Italian wine importer Domenico Valentino asked Castel Sallegg owner, Count Georg Von Kuenberg to bottle his classic Schiava in a liter container, for which I was asked to create a new label specific to the U.S. market. Rather than a complete departure from Castel Sallegg’s somewhat austere aethetic, I created a more approachable wine label while maintaining the identity of the brand.

Nestled between the majestic peaks of the Dolomite Alps, the area surrounding Lake Caldaro in the German-speaking region of Alto Adige is an optimum wine producing zone. Amidst this tranquil Alpine valley lie the vineyards of Castel Sallegg, a winery fortunate enough to possess some of the most desirable sites on the western slopes of the lake, and in the village of Caldaro. Local variety Schiava benefits from Lake Caldaro’s unique climate, providing Castel Sallegg with what is arguably its most distinctive wines.

The Castel Sallegg, in addition to its winemaking reputation, boasts a history steeped in nobility. In 1851 the castle itself and its surrounding vineyard was bought by Archduke Rainer of Austria, Viceroy of Lombardy-Veneto. It was later inherited by the Counts von Kuenburg through Prince Henry of Campofranco. A keen sense of custodial responsibility and continuity are deeply rooted in the Von Kuenburg family, and today Count Georg von Kuenburg oversees the production of each wine, ensuring quality and tradition are forever maintained.