Zulu Alpha Kilo brings archival artifacts into a photographic label series for Henry of Pelham
Did you know you can develop photographs using wine? Zulu Alpha Kilo used Henry of Pelham wine as a photo developer to create 50 unique photo bottle labels.
Each captures a moment from their history, inviting wine lovers to explore a chapter of Henry of Pelham’s past. The full set forms a chronological timeline of their 200 years of winemaking. It’s like a Wikipedia entry you can drink.
Zulu Alpha Kilo set out to tell Henry of Pelham’s history in a way that was both creative and meaningful. Drawing from the winery’s archive, the agency selected 50 artifacts and transformed their images into one-of-a-kind, drinkable works of art by transferring the original photographs onto each label. Inspired by archival practices, each label documents an artifact, its story and the wine used to create it, blending history with the craft of winemaking.
The design language was informed by research and archiving processes commonly used in museums and galleries. To reinforce this approach, the team layered four different substrates—cotton, vellum, recycled fibre and soft touch—to create each label. Additional techniques included custom die-cut tabs, blind debossing, side-sewn binding, thermography, glass etching and hand numbering. Each bottle was individually dipped in molten wax, emphasizing a hands-on process that reflects the craft of the wine itself.
Through the process, the team discovered that photographs can indeed be developed using wine—a technique that is largely unknown to many. The project also provided an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Henry of Pelham’s history. While Zulu Alpha Kilo had worked with the winery previously, this experience offered a more comprehensive view of its legacy, strengthening their connection to the brand.
Credits
- Chief Design Officer: Stephanie Yung
- Chief Creative Officer: Jenny Glover
- Design Director/Designer: Dejan Djuric, Jeff Watkins
- Senior Designer: Paula Dopuđa
- Creative Director/Copywriter: Jonah Flynn
- Creative Director/Art Director: Jenny Luong
- Art Director: Olivia Hashka
- Account Team: Corina Wilkes, Jessica Chorney, Zainab Mushtaq, Will Stephens
- Strategy Director: Meredith Ferguson
- Clients: Paul Speck, Daniel Speck, Matthew Speck, Emily Alonzo
- Agency Executive Producer: Laura Dubcovsky
- Agency Producer: Bita Mazaheri
- Integrated Producer: Jess Howard
- Studio Manager: Henry Eugenio
- Senior Production Designer: Pam Cohen
- Media Agency: Zulumatic
- Executive Director, Comms Planning & Technology: Sean Bell
- Head of Media: Alicia Petralia
- Media Team: Shubham, Tania Perales
- Production House and Post-Production Company: Zulubot
- Director of Post-Production and Operations: Sarah Dayus
- Zulubot Executive Producer: Adam Palmer
- Senior Content Producer: Kylee Habrowski
- Post Producer: Amy Groll
- Content Creator: Pablo Rincon
- Editor: Erin Brazeau
- Lead Interactive Artist: Andrew Martin
- Senior Motion Designer: Miguel Natividad
- Assistant Editor: Yuseon Yang
- Colourist: Santiago Trugeda
- Audio Engineer: Rosángela Hernández Gómez
- Photography Production House: Sparks Photographers
- Managing Director & Executive Producer: Pam Hamilton
- Photographers: Gary William Ogle and Fabrice Strippoli
- Wine Label Printer: Gas Company
- Signage Printing: Seamliss Graphics
- Prop/set Fabrication: MAWG Design
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