Designing a premium wine label is equal parts creativity, craftsmanship, and technical precision. While the visual concept is essential, many behind-the-scenes production details determine whether that design will translate beautifully onto the final bottle. At Lotus Labels, we partner closely with vineyards throughout this process, helping brands make informed choices that elevate their labels while avoiding costly surprises. Here are the key design considerations every winery should understand when developing a premium wine label.
1. Choosing the Right Material and Finish for Your Label
The material you choose plays a huge role in both the look and performance of your label. With so many material options available, including recycled papers, sustainably sourced stocks, and wet-strength papers for ice-bucket environments, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. That’s where our Account Managers come in. They’ll help you navigate the pros and cons of each material, explain how embellishments behave on different substrates, and guide you toward the perfect choice for your brand, budget, and bottle conditions. Why not ask them for a sample pack, where you can test and trial a bunch of different materials and see what works well for your product.
2. Understanding Foiling Requirements (and Limitations)
Hot foiling is one of the most impactful ways to add luxury to a wine label. The metallic shine instantly elevates the design and draws consumer attention in front of crowded shelves. However, foiling is also one of the most technically specific processes in label manufacturing.
To foil an element such as a logo, crest, or decorative line, your printer must create a custom metal foil plate. What many brands don’t realise is that any time that foiled element changes in size, shape, or layout, a new plate is required. This can lead to unexpected costs if the design evolves late in the process or if multiple SKUs have their own unique foiled components.
Foiling also has minimum size and line-width requirements. Fine hairlines, small serif details, or delicate script fonts might look beautiful on screen but may not foil cleanly in production. Small gaps can fill in, and thin lines might not hold crisp edges. By involving our Account Managers and Production Team early, we can guide you on the exact tolerances needed to achieve a flawless foiled finish.
True embossing can only be achieved on paper-based materials, as these substrates are permanently malleable enough to hold detailed premium finishes. But if you’re after a more cost-effective alternative, commonly used in spirits, metallic films can provide a clever work-around.
3. Embellishments That Add Luxury (and How to Use Them Smartly)
Embossing and foiling are two of the most effective ways to elevate a wine label. A smart cost-saving strategy is to choose one signature element, such as a logo or emblem, that remains consistent across all varietals. This allows you to reuse the same emboss or foil plate across multiple SKUs, delivering premium embellishment without the repeated tooling costs. Other elements, like varietal names or vintages, can simply be printed, keeping the rest of the design flexible and budget-friendly.
Embossing and foiling can also be combined for maximum impact, as long as the design is created with the correct tolerances and alignment in mind. When executed well, these embellishments add presence, texture, and perceived value, making your label stand out, even before your potential customer decides to pick up the bottle.
4. The Importance of Early Collaboration
One of the biggest advantages in achieving a premium wine label is involving your print partner as early as possible. At Lotus Labels, we are proud for being more than just manufacturers, we strive to be collaborators. Our dedicated Account Managers work closely with customers from concept through to production, offering insights that help refine designs and avoid technical or financial pitfalls.
Meeting in person, reviewing materials together, and discussing design goals ensures we guide you toward the right substrates, embellishments, and finishes. Early collaboration allows us to work towards best possible product performance while preserving your creative vision.
Our customers often say that the most valuable part of our service is having a knowledgeable first point of contact, someone who understands both the artistry and the engineering behind label production. This partnership saves time, prevents rework, and leads to more premium finished products.
Final Thoughts
A premium wine label combines creativity, thoughtful design, technical understanding, and skilled execution. By carefully taking into account the various nuances of paper stocks, foils, embossing tools and varnishes, an enhanced shelf-appeal will almost certainly result from  it.
At Lotus Labels, we are always keen to bring these details to life. Our dedication to craftsmanship and embellishment excellence was recognised when we were awarded Label Printer of the Year 2025 by PrintWeek for our outstanding work in wine labelling. When you partner with us, you can feel confident that your label is in expert hands, from first design concept to final bottle.
Contact us today, we would love to answer any questions you have and get started on your next project!Â
