I guess the wine stain is the more successful option, if I have to pick. No offense, but both a wine bottle stain and grapes are the most obvious clichés in the world of wine-related design. Not that you have to totally revamp it, I think they both communicate wine, but I would play with the cliché a bit -- how could these old stand-bys of wine packaging be tweaked to be seen in a new way? I would check out thedieline.com, you can see some of the best new wine packaging in the marketplace. The sans type you're using is close, but not quite right, too. The lower-case "l" in particular is bothersome, it's a bit too modern looking. I would look for something a bit rougher looking, that gives off the feel of 19th and early 20th century metal type.

http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2008/08/evan-geltosky.html

Here's an example of what I mean by playing with clichés.

Thanks for the comments. This is actually for a wine bar and not a label. But thanks for the link! Always love to look at new designs. I hadn't realized that the stain was so cliche, I had done a lot of research on wine bar logos, and hadn't seen anything like that before. Maybe I was looking in the wrong places... I wouldn't like to revamp since I don't think there is enough time. I guess I should probably go back and work with them a little more. I did realize that the grapes have been used a lot before, but I tried to use it in a different way. Trying to make it look like grapes as well as a wine glass. As for the type, I agree with you that it is not quite right. I want to find another one to use with it. any suggestions?

Thanks again for the comments, and more of them would definitely be appreciated. :)

Row 2 should not be pursued further.

Out of the similar designs in rows 1 & 3, I think 1a does the best job with getting the mark and the text to work and flow together. Good work.

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Nick Hladek

1b and 3b work the best for me, but I'd put my money on 1b.

Be cautious though, the logo for some silly reason reminds me of The Body Shop's logo (which it isn't close to really)

Maybe it's just me, maybe it's the roundness of it, but it not being a complete circle.

I really like 1B though.

not the first time I've seen the wine stain concept ;-)

if you're gonna roll with it ... why not use an ACTUAL wine stain ... rather than some vector knock off?

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Paul Ducco
Graphic Design Melbourne
Bicycle Film Festival

Paul, my thoughts exactly. I don't mind the 'wine stain' idea, but please use an actual ring created by a wine glass...
and furthermore what better excuse to have some wine in the studio?

wait ... you need an excuse? ... you're doin' it wrong.

;)

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Paul Ducco
Graphic Design Melbourne
Bicycle Film Festival

oh, you bohemian types... ;)

Hi there. I did not read all of the above and, I think the logo with the circle is good. If you could (would) make it so it looks like a barrel, with strips of wood converging to the left horizon. Cheers.