This year’s harvest has shaped up to be an unusual and challenging one for drinks producers. Prolonged hot and dry conditions have accelerated crop development in some parts of the UK, with some harvesting starting earlier than usual.
Once the harvest is in though, attention turns towards getting your product ready for customers – which includes your labels. After all, labels might be small, but they have a big job to do – especially on a bottle.
Whether you’re producing wine, cider, beer, spirits or another specialist drink, here’s your guide to bottle label printing.
A bottle label has a lot to do
There’s more to bottle label printing than simply choosing a design. It involves several decisions that can affect how your finished product looks and performs.
From artwork, to materials, adhesives and finishes, choosing the right options helps make sure your labels are suitable for the finished product and looking their best.
It’s especially worth thinking about if you’re getting a new vintage, seasonal release or fresh production run ready after this year’s harvest.
Get your artwork print-ready
Before your labels can go to print, it’s worth making sure your artwork is right for the bottle, label size and printing process.
That might mean checking your product information, confirming the dimensions, making any final tweaks and approving your proof. We provide some artwork guidelines to our customers to help and we also review your artwork make sure it’s suitable for label printing. We can also make recommendations around materials, finishes, sizing and other factors that could affect the finished label.
For drinks containing alcohol, it’s also important to check that your artwork includes the relevant information. Our guide to alcohol labelling requirements explains some of the key requirements to consider.
Choose the right material for your bottle
A great bottle label works hard and looks good doing it.
Your product might be stored in a refrigerator, placed in an ice bucket or exposed to condensation. Bottles can also be handled frequently during transport, in shops and when they’re being served.
The bottle itself matters too. Different shapes, curves and surfaces can affect how a label applies and performs.
If your bottles will regularly be exposed to moisture, choosing the right label material becomes particularly important. Our ultra wet strength labels are designed for applications where labels need additional resistance to certain wet conditions such as in ice-buckets.
Depending on the product and packaging, you may also want to consider tamper-evident labels, which can provide an indication if bottles have been interfered with.
If sustainability is an important part of your packaging choices you may also want to consider eco-friendly label options.
So, before choosing your label material, think about where your bottles are going to spend their time.
Give your next vintage or batch some impact
Of course, your label isn’t just there to do a practical job – it’s also one of the first things your customer will notice.
For wine producers, a new vintage can be an opportunity to create a distinctive label that reflects the character of the wine. Cider producers may want to highlight this year’s apples, while breweries and distilleries might be preparing seasonal or limited-edition releases.
When producing wine bottle labels, cider labels, beer bottle labels or spirit bottle labels, the right finish can add a premium look and feel.
There are plenty of ways to add something extra to your label, from textured and tactile materials to foil, embossing, de-bossing, raised varnishes and spot varnishing. Foil label printing can add metallic detail and visual impact, while embossed labels can introduce texture and a tactile element to the design. A varnished finish can also be used to create different levels of gloss and contrast across the label.
The best finish really comes down to your product, packaging and the look you’re going for.
Before you hit print
From the type of label you need to how it will be applied, we can help you make the right choices for your product. When you’re ready to order, there are a few things to consider:
- Is your artwork finalised?
- Is all the required product information included?
- Which material and adhesive are suitable?
- How will the bottle be stored and handled?
- How will the labels be applied?
- Do you need front, back, neck or wraparound labels?
- How many labels will you need?
- Would a premium finish suit your product?
- Have you allowed enough time for proofing, bottle label printing and delivery?
There’s no need to have all the answers before you get in touch. We can talk through these details with you as part of the ordering process.
From harvest to bottle
The harvest might be the start of the journey, but there are plenty of steps between picking this year’s crop and getting the finished bottle into customers’ hands. Your labels are one of them.
Got a new batch coming up?
Whether you’re preparing a new wine vintage, this year’s cider, a seasonal beer or a new spirit, our custom bottle labels can be tailored to your requirements.
With over 25 years of experience, Label Solutions works with businesses ranging from start-ups and artisan producers through to national brands, contract packers and trade customers.
Our customers choose us because we offer high-quality custom label printing, fast turnaround times, competitive pricing and friendly expert advice.
Whenever you’re ready, get in touch with us to discuss your requirements.
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