38 WINES&VINES November 2018
PACKAGING
BOTTLING: In-house,
semi-automatic bot-
tling line from TCW
(tcwequipment.com).
The bottling line is
custom-made and in-
cludes argon sparger,
Mori six-spout filler,
Enolta Mapan Mini Lux
semi-automatic vacu-
um corker, Tosa Mecc
foil spinner (used for
clients' wines only)
and FX-10 labeler.
LABEL PRINTER:
Tapp Label,
tapplabel.com
CORK: M.A. Silva,
masilva.com
GLASS: M.A. Silva,
masilva.com
LABEL ART:
Daniel Helzer,
instagram.com/artby-
helzer
Have a brand packaging or redesign story to tell? Contact: edit@winesandvines.com
UNPACKING PACK AGING
Indie artist tells
"fantastical"
wine story
The Wild Syrah
Rune Wines
Sonoita, Ariz., runewines.com
Annual case production: 1,700
Vineyard acreage: 3
Average bottle price: $35
The goal of our branding and label story is to
include a sense of place in our packaging that
represents the differences in vineyard sites as
well as vintages. Since every year is different,
and every terroir has its own unique character, I
felt the labels should do their part to showcase
this. Daniel Helzer is the artist that makes Rune
come to life on the bottle. Every year we com-
mission him to create new art to be paired with
the wines, continuing the fantastical story that
is Rune.
The Wild Syrah is our version of an Arizona
Côte-Rôtie. The Syrah is picked at phenolic ripe-
ness, destemmed, and then co-fermented with a
mixture of Viognier, Roussanne and Malvasia Bi-
anca. These aromatic white varietals help lift the
delicate savory aromas from the Syrah and add
in a nice floral bouquet that complements the
fruit character. It is aged sur lie for around 18
months and then bottled unfined and unfiltered.
— James Callahan
winemaker and owner, Rune Wines
SOURCE:
WINES
VINES
ANALYTICS
WINERY
DATABASE
FOIL: No foil —
naked!
