Esterházy winery receives Red Dot Design Award

An independent panel of 30 internationally renowned experts evaluated the design with a focus on technical expertise and design expertise. The jury concluded that the Esterházy winery's label series, with its visual language, perfectly meets the requirements of modern product design and deserved to be honoured with the Red Dot Design Award.  

Artistic quality pyramid 

The label line clearly conveys to customers which product category each wine belongs to: from regional and local wines to top wines from single vineyards and sparkling wines – such as Brut NV (non-vintage), Rosé Reserve and Grande Reserve Blanc de Noir.

Winery manager Wolfgang Hewarth explains the interplay between the symbolism on the wine bottles and the quality pyramid: “At the base are the regional wines: the Order of the Golden Fleece on the label promises tradition and origin. One step above that, the crown on the ‘E’ represents character and personality. At the top are the single vineyard wines, the crowning glory of quality. Here, all three elements come together in gold.” 

Grounded art by Birgit Kiennast 

The illustrator behind the award-winning design is Birgit Kiennast. The Austrian artist combines handmade art with clear design and lives in Gars am Kamp, at the gateway to the Kamptal wine region: “Wine and art have a lot in common. Both are crafts that you can feel and have the power to bring people together. Both require courage to create something unique.” 

Baroque imagery, timeless craftsmanship, modern wine 

In order to understand the world of Esterhazy and be able to depict it in a label design, the artist immersed herself in the eventful history of the Esterházy princely family and the vibrant present of the company. Her motto was: first understand, then design. 

The baroque imagery on exhibition pieces, old wine barrels and festive jugs, which she encountered during her research at the Esterházy palace and in the winery, is inspired by heraldry. Her vision then took shape: “Suddenly, I saw a griffin and a lion before my eyes,” says Kiennast, describing the creative process. 

Like everything else about this award-winning label series, the craftsmanship aspect has also been deliberately emphasised, explains the artist: “Handcrafting creates closeness. It shows that something genuine has been created here, consciously and with care. It is lines, textures, symmetries – composed like the layers of nature.” 

Tribute to Prince Paul II Anton Esterházy 

The hand-drawn label features historical symbols from the wedding coat of arms of Prince Paul II Anton Esterházy de Galantha and his wife Anna Maria Lunati Visconti. The design language also reflects the connection between modern wine style and historical heritage: the griffin and lion, the curved E with crown, snakes, rose ornaments and the Order of the Golden Fleece are ambassadors of tradition and modernity. 

Highly coveted Red Dot 

The Red Dot Design Award is considered one of the most prestigious awards in the design industry. This year, entries from 58 countries competed for the Red Dot in the ‘Brands & Communications Design’ category. The ceremonial presentation of the Red Dots took place in Berlin at the beginning of November. 

The decisive factor for the jury is whether the product combines the four qualities of good design. According to the definition by Professor Dr Peter Zec, initiator and CEO of Red Dot, a successful design requires quality in terms of function, seduction, use and responsibility.