A Look into Our Label Designs
Today we sat down with Taddy Mikelaites, Owner & Designer of Heirloom, to talk about her hand-painted labels for our wines, including our soon to be released Vasara: Strawberry.
As a multi-talented illustrator and designer, Taddy has painted the designs for each of our wines since we opened our doors in 2020. Read below to learn more about her process and what makes our labels so unique!
Taddy Mikelaites painting watercolor illustrations in her studio.
How did you first approach the designs for our bottles? How has this shifted over time?
Prior to opening, we originally decided on a greenhouse design with delicate greenery as the focal point of the varietal labels. Several months later, I was seeing more vibrant plants throughout the property (ferns, philodendrons, and more). This inspired me to paint new pieces, including much larger plant leaves with more vibrant colors that I later used to replace the original artwork. I’ve continued this theme with all new releases, including our Vasara: Strawberry.
What were your biggest inspirations? How did you incorporate our history into each label?
My biggest inspiration has always been our family and the winery’s property where my father-in-law and his sisters grew up, and where my husband and his siblings called home decades later. For example:
The house you see on the Family Red & White bottles was a painting I gave my husband, Ridge, 8 years ago as a Christmas gift. I loved being able to use it as the Family label design.
The design you see on the Varietal labels was inspired by the winery’s Greenhouse. It was important for me to include the greenhouse on the varietal label because it was part of the original building structure from when Joseph Mikelaites opened Brianwood Nurseries in 1987, which was renovated into our Tasting Room over 30 years later.
For the Duggan’s Press label, I painted the old-school wine press our family used to hand-press all of the grapes for the very first wine made at Jolene. I incorporated magnolias in this design in memory of the old Magnolia Tree that my father-in-law & his father planted in 1991 where the production building now sits.
What is your technique for producing each label?
I start by drawing the subject I plan to use as a focal point. I then hand paint each individual piece of art using watercolors. I scan these into Photoshop and digitally remove the watercolor paper background, clean up all lines and imperfections, and resize and play with color hues. I then arrange the pieces of art in Adobe Illustrator to design the final label.
Watercolor paintings for our wine labels by Taddy Mikelaites.
What are you most proud of (design-wise or otherwise)?
Very proud to be a part of The Jolene Family. Being able to use my passion in creating a brand is just a bonus :)
Heirloom is a creative design studio by Taddy Mikelaites, specializing in Fine Art Paper Goods, Brand/Web Design, and Timeless Designs for the Home + Business. You can follow Taddy’s work on Instagram and Facebook (@heirloomva). Inquiries for small business brand/web design assistance can be emailed to hello@heirloom-studio.com.