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Best Packaging Design

This award category celebrates creativity, functionality, and effectiveness of a new packaging design for a wine related product with a focus on how the packaging elements communicate to the target consumer. It recognises new packaging designs that meets consumer needs, communicate brand identity, and deliver commercial or behavioural impact.

Entry criteria

  1. Open to wineries and wine producers based in Australia who are involved in developing packaging for their individual brand(s).
  2. Teams can submit an entry in conjunction with an agency or a third-party supplier.
  3. Packaging design must have some “new” element – new label design, new bottle etc, and the new packaging must have been physically launched on a product between 1 July 2025 and 31 July 2026. Design concepts are not eligible.
  4. The award category includes but is not limited to packaging formats (e.g. cans/pouches/bottles/boxes), labels, brochures, closures, cartons, etc.

Entry Fee:

An entry fee of $59 inc GST applies to every award nomination submission for this category.

 

Judging criteria:

  • Design features – does the submission show how the packaging is appealing to the target market, including any new innovative, functional, environmental attributes?
  • Branding – How clearly is the brand identity and story communicated through the packaging design?
  • Product attributes – Does the packaging clearly communicate the product attributes such as variety, region, style, taste and quality; consumer usability?
  • Visual distinctiveness – how well does the packaging stand out and make the brand easily recognisable and memorable?
  • Effectiveness – has the new packaging delivered a commercial or behavioural impact?
  • Commitment to developing ongoing excellence in wine communication will be considered favourably. This includes membership to Wine Communicators of Australia.

Prize:

The winner will receive: one year’s membership to WCA (or 1 free renewal for an existing member), a category trophy, and exclusive WCA 2026 award-winner print and web graphics to use in personal marketing and communications.

 

ENTER NOW – Instructions

  1. Download the 2026 Awards Entry Form (Word format) HERE. Save it somewhere safe so you can complete later. Once complete, save as a PDF before returning to WCA.
  2. Click HERE to pay your entry fee. If you are entering multiple categories you can pay multiple fees at once.  
  3. Email your Entry Form and all supporting materials, by deadline of 3 July, including an image of the nominee and/or organisation to represent your entry, to wca@winecommunicators.com.au

By emailing us your images you acknowledge and accept that WCA has full permission to use this content for promotional purposes.

Please complete ALL STEPS in the Awards entry process, failure to do so may result in your entry not being considered.

KEY DATES:

Entries Close: 3 July 2026

Finalists Announced: mid September 2026

Awards Ceremony: 4 November 2026

Good luck!