About The Author

More about Sharon

Captivating Winery Websites For Your Inspiration

Quick Summary

From the Napa Wineries in California to the vineyards of Australia and France, the beautiful designs of these wine maker’s websites embody the spirit of the vine. Trends for winery websites have been leaning towards a dynamic Flash introduction, animation and beautiful graphics, which would give the best representation of the products for the target market. Unfortunately, winery sites strongly focus on the visual design, while best usability practices are often ignored. For instance, some web-sites do not offer a search functionality and use hardly readable content (and the size of the text can not be increased, because the text is embedded into a Flash-animation). Besides, since many sites are Flash-based, it’s also impossible to bookmark a specific page, although (in general) it can be achieved in Flash).

Table of Contents
Membership counter

Members support Smashing

Wonderful, friendly people who keep this lil' site alive — and get smarter every day.

Are you smashing, too? →

From the Napa Wineries in California to the vineyards of Australia and France, the beautiful designs of these wine maker’s websites embody the spirit of the vine. Trends for winery websites have been leaning towards a dynamic Flash introduction, animation and beautiful graphics, which would give the best representation of the products for the target market.

While sites have gone in the direction of a more modern and contemporary approach with fresh and sleek designs, others have taken the more traditional route by captivating their users with the bold earthy Tuscan colors and impressive graphics and art.

You may also be interested in the following related posts:

There is much to consider when designing a site for a wine maker. Use your creativity to promote the wine and winery, so that the quality portrayed encourages users to inquire how to contact, where and how to buy, and even obtain information on upcoming events.

Good design ≠ Good visual design

Unfortunately, winery sites strongly focus on the visual design, while best usability practices are often ignored. For instance, some web-sites do not offer a search functionality and use hardly readable content (and the size of the text can not be increased, because the text is embedded into a Flash-animation). Besides, since many sites are Flash-based, it’s also impossible to bookmark a specific page, although (in general) it can be achieved in Flash).

Screenshot
When good visual design fails: the font-size of the text on Dancing Bull Wines can not be scaled up; for many users it may be way too small for comfortable reading.

A good design is not a good visual design; good design is rather a balanced combination of good visual design and usability, resulting in the positive user experience. In our experience, too many sites appear to be very complex and hard to navigate, because in the trade-off between visual design and usability designers often decide against the latter one.

Winery Websites For Your Inspiration

With that in mind, we share with you 40 captivating wine maker’s websites displaying some examples how it can be a rewarding experience – please notice that these sites often can be improved in terms of usability.

Moët Chandon

Screenshot

Screenshot

Robert Mondavi Winery

Screenshot

Screenshot

Screenshot

2 Lads Winery

Screenshot

Bonny Doon Vineyard

Screenshot

Screenshot

Dancing Bull

Screenshot

Screenshot

Red Bicyclette Wines

Screenshot

Chandon

Screenshot

Caduceus

Screenshot

Black Estate

Screenshot

Da Vinci Wine

Screenshot

Folie à Deux

Screenshot

Champagne Clerambault

Screenshot

Screenshot

3 Blind Moose

Screenshot

Screenshot

Pepi Winery

Screenshot

Screenshot

Rex Goliath Winery

Screenshot

Domaine Laroche

Screenshot

Screenshot

Frog’s Leap

Screenshot

Screenshot

Dog House Wine

Screenshot

Tenuta dell’Ornellaia

Screenshot

Screenshot

Big House Wines

Screenshot

Screenshot

Gnarly Head

Screenshot

Domaine Carneros

Screenshot

Yellow Tail

Screenshot

Screenshot

De Saint Gall

Screenshot

Screenshot

Hatten Wines

Screenshot

Screenshot

The Little Penguin

Screenshot

Chateau Lazaridi

Screenshot

Rocky Creek Winery

Screenshot

Renwood Winery

Screenshot

Toasted Head

Screenshot

Rumbaur Vineyards

Screenshot

Turning Leaf

Screenshot

Mumm

Screenshot

Mumm Napa

Screenshot

Bonus: Wine & Beer Bottle Design Tutorials

Wine bottles make exceptional design elements. Following are a few “how to create wine bottle tutorials” – we have added them to this article, since they would add value to this article.

Realistic Decorated Wine Bottle Illustration

Screenshot

Create a Realistic Wine Bottle Illustration From Scratch

Screenshot

Photoshop Glass Bottle Technique

Screenshot

Illustrating a Cool Glass of Beer in Photoshop

Screenshot

Beverage Ad Enhancer in Photoshop

Screenshot

Design Beer Glass and Bottle in Photoshop

Screenshot

Further Resources