Weingut Christian Spohr is located in Worms-Abenheim, in the heart of Rheinhessen – Germany’s largest wine-growing region and, with its many hours of sunshine and little rainfall, a true breeding ground for young, ambitious winemakers.

With “Wildwechsel,” the winery produces two Cuvées on sandy loam and loess soils that could hardly be more different yet belong together: The Red 2023 combines the region’s most famous red grape varieties into a wild Cuvée with local fruits and elegant roasted notes – a perfect companion to venison, wild boar, or lamb. The White 2024, the estate’s flagship, combines Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris into an expressive Cuvée, aged in oak barrels, with a gentle creaminess and rich structure.

The name “Wildwechsel” describes the path that game takes through the undergrowth – secretly, but predictably, always along the same invisible lines. Precisely this image was to be tangible on the label: a motif that carries two wines without one bottle appearing as a mere copy of the other. The challenge: to find a distinctive visual symbol that transcends grape varieties, yet works equally well on the robust red wine bottle and the elegant white wine bottle.

The solution: a leaping deer, delicate as an etching in silvery strokes on a deep black background, complemented by a pine forest silhouette and golden typography featuring a bold “WILD” and an ornate “Wechsel.” For design development, project management, and final artwork, I oversaw the complete label process from the first sketch to the print-ready file – including color matching for both red and white wine bottles. Thus, the glimpse into the undergrowth becomes a label that tells as much of a story as the wine itself promises.