Origin Cab Label
Our label art embodies our ethos – historic wines made for modern times. The Origin Cab artwork is a true reflection of place, history, and modernity.
The vine – wild, old vines with roots reaching deep into dry volcanic soils and new vines grafted from their ancestors, bringing vibrancy to their lineage.
The bull – inspired by the mighty cattle roaming Bates Ranch and the ancient Greek bulls that fascinated man and seduced gods.
The mountain – a hilltop estate passed down through generations just a few peaks from the first winery in California with land cared for by contemporary, sustainable farming practices.
The artwork is created by Austin, TX artist and Origin our partner RF Alvarez.
The Process: Origin Bates Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Label
Origin brings together original design and art to tell unique stories. Those stories are about the land and the people that create the wine. But they also reach deep into the history books to find the balance between today’s reality and stories of the past.
With our first wine, the Origin Rosé, we discovered an identity that’s minimal but eclectic and natural, always with a touch of texture. The blue face and the gravitational pull of the were powerful. The label was steeped in ancient metaphor and deeply connected to the Origin mark of Janus – the Roman god of worshipped for 𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, passages, and at the beginning of each planting and harvest. But the rosé label also mirrors the place from which its fruit is harvested. The face looking west is cooled by the ocean on the horizon, the vineyards at the bench of the mountain just below, surrounded by evergreen branches from towering redwoods.
For the Origin Cabernet Sauvignon, telling the unique story of Bates Ranch through the label was essential. The vineyard, landscape, home, and stories make it a fantastical place. And it was the site that led to so much of what Origin has become. In partnership with Melia Tandanio and RF Alvarez, we went in search of a new expression of the same language. Still true to Origin brand – colors, style, and mark – but telling its own stories.
The long-horned bulls roaming Bates Ranch are unmistakable. The towering Santa Cruz Mountains are iconic. The vines – some over 80-years old – are long and winding. The wine is moody, bold, but also earthy and natural. The land is dry and dusty. The property is unmapped– relying on landmarks to denote the various vineyard blocks. The owners and farmers are like characters pulled from folklore. How to sum up land so rich with natural resources and personality?
We looked to the past for inspiration. The bull has long fascinated man since Paleolithic cave paintings dating back 13,500 BC. Across ancient cultures, the bull was celebrated and feared – seen as beautiful but also primal. And like Bates Ranch, the bull is a central character.
The winding dirt roads across Bates Ranch are unmarked and can lead to dead ends. Around any turn, you may find yourself face to face with a 1000 pound bull or a picturesque vista with a vineyard. It’s our modern-day labyrinth. The Labyrinth in Greek mythology was built by Icarus and Daedalus to hold Minotaur – the creature that is part man and part bull. Even the labyrinth’s maker could barely escape the elaborate design pathways. The duality between Bates Ranch and these ancient stories created an undeniable connection.
The final result of the label is true to Origin and the Bates Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s historic, it’s modern, it’s natural, and it tells many stories. And most importantly, we know it will be shared amongst friends and family as they tell their own stories and create new ones.