Jacopo Saleri Design
Italian by origin, I’m a Brand & Packaging Designer focused on the wine industry. Since moving to Georgia in 2018, I’ve worked with many of the country’s most forward-thinking winemakers. Their need to elevate packaging for local and international markets pushed me to quickly immerse myself in Georgia’s rich wine culture -after all, it’s the cradle of wine!
Whether collaborating with small natural producers or larger European-style wineries, my goal is to create visual identities that blend heritage with a modern design language - moving away from the often overused and misplaced chateau illustrations.
With support from a few collaborators, I guide clients through the full design process with a flexible yet methodical approach, identifying each brand’s unique character and designing all touchpoints accordingly. This sometimes leads to bold choices driven by strategy or creative solutions to the challenges of a developing market.
Alongside my studio work, I also lead workshops on wine label design and branding for winemakers, most recently with the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and the Design Institute in 2024.
“I see EPDA as a valuable platform to connect a small country at the edge of Europe with a wider European network. Being part of this professional exchange is not only personally exciting and motivating but also important for advancing the industry by raising standards through collaboration.”
Cases
FIRST ALEKSANDROULI, Rosé Wine, Kakheti, Georgia 2024
First Aleksandrouli by Simoneti Wine Cellar is a unique rosé crafted from the Aleksandrouli grape, sourced from Kvareli region in Eastern Georgia. The name honours this achievement as the first rosé produced from this local variety.
The packaging aims to be equally distinctive, featuring a transparent glass capsule and a sensual transparent botlle that allows the pale salmon hue of the wine to shine through. Designed like a piece of jewellery, the label eliminates the traditional division between front and back, inviting admiration from every angle.
The label appears simple at first glance, but it then reveals many layers of details. A debossed pattern, inspired by rose thorns, subtly frames the text, while a Victorian-style illustration is set in ovals that mimic the shape of a cameo. The name of the wine stands out through a matte screenprinted varnish, and the copper foil adds a touch of warmth, making both the look and feel of the label as distinct as the wine itself.
KATSIA DA GUNEBA, Natural Wine, Imereti, Georgia 2021
“Katsia da Guneba”, a Georgian expression meaning “a man and a mood”, is often used to end a disagreement between two people with very different opinions. For this winemaker from Imereti, it becomes a personal motto - making wine by following his own instinct and experience, even when this goes against traditional methods.
The label reflects this attitude with an abstract illustration of two faces looking in opposite directions, symbolizing contrast and personality. The mix of Georgian and English type gives the design a fun and bold tone, typical of natural wines. At the same time, the clean, symmetrical layout and vintage-style neck label add a sense of elegance and balance—just like the wine itself.
A cliché plate was used on the illustration, subtly revealing the lowest line of text through blind embossing, adding a tactile and refined detail to the overall design.
MGALOBLISHVILI, Saperavi Reserve, Kakheti, Georgia 2023
Saperavi Reserve is a single-vineyard wine made from Saperavi grapes grown in Akura Village, in the Telavi district of East Georgia. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, it expresses the depth and character of the region.
The label design embraces refined simplicity. From the debossed frame to the golden foil on the lower fascette, every detail is carefully considered. The upper part features the emblematic logo I previously designed, while the lower section presents the wine’s essential information. With its clean layout and focus on craftsmanship, the packaging reflects the same dedication found in every bottle of Mgaloblishvili Family Reserve—a blend of Georgian tradition and European expertise.