El Desperado is an experimental range of wines that naturally reflect each vintage and the beguiling land of which they were conceived. These wines are made in the vineyard, handcrafted with minimal intervention using naturally occurring wild yeasts indigenous to each single vineyard allowing the brilliance of the fruit to shine through. Unique wines grown of alternative varieties rescued from the scourge of commercial blending.
Tom's first ever vintage of El Desperado was 2011 and will always be known in Australian wine history as the vintage from hell, as many vineyards succumb to the wet summer. At the Pawn, he sacrificed making his full range of wines that year to create a brand-new style of wines. A Pawn, desperate to stay in the game, willing to sacrifice everything and create something new. Wines lower in alcohol, brighter in fruit expression, with minimal human intervention.
Shaping a memorable identity for The Pawn Wine Co, the design captures the character of a resilient winemaking partnership, a man and his rollicking dog, and their shared connection to the land through an innovative approach.
Standout generative AI illustrations tell this story in an unconventional, compelling and visually engaging way. A rugged simplicity, set off by coloured hot foils on heavy-weight natural grain paper stock.