Enkidu
Food and Beverage
- Brand Strategy
- Web Design
- Photography
The Job
Prepare a boutique Sonoma Valley winery for growth and success in its next 20 years
Above: Photo for Enkidu by Travis Gillett
In 2003 founder and winemaker Phile Stahele named Enkidu after a character in the ancient poem The Epic of Gilgamesh. The character Enkidu was created by the gods and brought from the wilderness to moderate king Gilgamesh’s most tyrannical tendencies. The two would become friends (some say lovers) and much of the epic is dedicated to their adventures.
The Challenge
New ownership looked to capture younger, more diverse drinkers to support increased production. But Enkidu’s origin story is ancient and obscure. How do we connect it to what matters now?
Implementation
We adapted the ancient story of Enkidu to better apply to present-day concerns, creating language and imagery to authentically connect to a younger audience.
“In ancient Sumarian, the character of Enkidu represents a voice for nature. Pure, principled, and adventurous, it calls us to rediscover the balance between ourselves and the natural world. Join us as we explore the exceptional character of Sonoma Valley.”
Do you serve sushi?
Th ancient Sumarians used cuneiform, one of the earliest forms of writing, made by reed tips pressed into clay. The extant Enkidu mark utilized a version of cuneiform to write the three symbols for EN-KI-DU, however it caused confusion with the public, with many people mistaking it for asian pictographic lettering, leading some who entered the tasting room to inquire about sushi service. We divorced the wordmark from the cuneiform and adjusted the kerning, and created a new cuneiform sample of the name using real clay. It’s not every day you learn a new writing style.
The original wordmark was quirky, but ultimately we decided to embrace it to help maintain recognition from existing fans. However not without a bit of every designer’s favorite pastime: kerning adjustment!
Photography
We know photos are hugely powerful ways of conveying story, so one of our top priorities was to create imagery that set Enkidu apart from so many other Sonoma Valley wineries. We emphasized its passion for real work in the fields and brought in a diverse group of models to emphasize the brand’s inclusiveness.
Photos for Enkidu by Travis Gillett
Website
We assembled everything in a website that highlighted the passion and care behind the brand’s relationship to the natural world.
