Expatrius is a limited edition range of wines created from grapes grown on the eastern end of Waiheke Island, New Zealand, by winemaker Luc Desbonnets. The wine’s label and case, created by print and digital design agency Inhouse, contrast the fine detail and traditional heraldic cues of a hand-etched illustrative crown, a gold block foil emboss and tactile substrate alongside geometric, abstract letter-forms, solid fills and a striking monochromatic colour palette to communicate the heritage, high quality, craft and exclusivity of the wine and a very distinctive and contemporary brand character.

“The design for Expatrius employs bold contemporary typography partnered with a flourish of old world embellishment in the form of a heraldic crown. The crown is drawn from elements borrowed from both the owners family crests, it is foiled and embossed to accentuate premium cues. The X as a letterform, and phonetically a prefix, lent itself to special treatment. The large X in the background is embossed and acts as a linking device between front label elements and back label text.” – Inhouse