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Germain-Robin began in 1982 as the unlikely union of two creative minds: Ansley Cole, a professor, and Hubert Germain-Robin, a Cognac distiller. The two partnered to create Germain-Robin, the first California brandy that broke free from the constraints of Cognac. They crafted their brandy from traditional, alembic Cognac stills but using unconventional, flavorful, and complex California wine grapes. Embracing the rich tradition of hand-distillation while harnessing the potential of California wine, they set a new standard of excellence in brandy that has been recognized worldwide. Germain-Robin continues that tradition today – advancing the art of fine California brandy into a new era. ⁠

We were asked to rebrand Germain-Robin and redesign their packaging, staying true to the founders’ ethos while providing the quality and premium queues to make Germain-Robin the brandy of choice for connoisseurs. The rebranding stays true to the founders’ ethos: emulating the core brand value of unembellished while still uncompromising, we created a clean and straightforward look for the new visual identity.

 

Brand Renovation, Branding, Visual Identity, Packaging Design.

The logotype expresses the brand’s quiet and confident attitude: the two founders’ name is stacked and elegantly separated by a thin line: a quest for a perfect balance, the equilibrium between imagination and rigor in execution.

The closure carries with confidence the new GR monogram, a modern seal of quality and commitment to excellence.

The minimalist approach to the packaging follows the same philosophy: the California Alembic brandy has a humble white crafted paper label that notes the variant in red and a detailed description of the brandy’s distillation and aging methods.

The XO variant has a minimalist black label, enhanced by a Redwood cut stamped, also found on both expressions’ capsules. The Redwood Symbol, an honest representation of their respect for the environment, artisanal methods, and the diligence of craftsmanship, was crafted by a local artist using an actual Redwood tree cut.