Georges Duboeuf’s annual competition to find original artwork for its Beaujolais Nouveau label received 1,000 entries from emerging artists. From these hopefuls emerged the winner, Maeve Croghan, a Virginia native who lives and works in the Mendocino, CA area.
Croghan’s artwork received the most fan support out of nearly 10,000 votes cast. She will receive a cash grant, plus her work debuted on over one million bottles of Duboeuf’s 2020 Beaujolais Nouveau, Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau and Beaujolais Nouveau Rosé, when the wines release on the third Thursday of November this year (Nov. 19, 2020).
“In a time where there is so much uncertainty, I cannot express how elated and thankful I am for this opportunity,” says Croghan. “It is an amazing feeling to have my work recognized by such a remarkable brand as Georges Duboeuf.”
Maeve’s winning painting, Russett Vines, evokes a connection to nature and the vines that give birth to the annual harvest, she says. Using colors of gold, orange and reds, “I wanted to relay a feeling of warmth and happiness, bringing attention to the beauty and splendor of the vines,” explains Croghan.
The annual Georges Duboeuf Artist Label Competition has grown year after year to support emerging artists in communities across the country.
“Our family has long appreciated and valued the talents of local arts and artisans,” says Franck Duboeuf, CEO of Les Vins Georges Duboeuf. “This contest is a continuation of that legacy and history of how art pairs so beautifully with wine.”
Entries were submitted online via the competition’s website and 14 were selected as finalists by a combination of public vote and input from a panel of winery representatives and art experts. The finalists were announced on April 17, followed by a two-week period of public voting via the website and Social Media.
“We’re thrilled to see that the label contest continues to grow in popularity as it becomes something that artists and consumers look forward to each year,” says Dennis Kreps, co-owner with his father, Stephen D. Kreps, of Quintessential, the exclusive importer of Les Vins Georges Duboeuf in the U.S. “The high levels of engagement and activity we received this year have provided our audience with a creative outlet to enjoy and celebrate at a time when we need it most.”
The 2019 Artist Label winner was Laura Runge, of Texas.
[…] Have you managed to get your hands on a bottle of this year’s eagerly awaited juice? I’ve managed to grab a bottle, of Georges Duboeuf ‘s 2020 Beaujolais Nouveau, who was the marketing genius behind the whole Beaujolais Nouveau wine movement. Sadly though, he passed away in January of this year. Another reason to dislike 2020!!! I had to pre-order it just to be sure I got this particular bottle, as this is THE ONE to buy. Georges Duboeuf’s Beaujolais Nouveau wine has showcased a unique artist-designed label for several years, reflective of the year’s vintage. In 2017 the winery created a contest for artists to submit their designs so the public could vote on the winner. Check out some of the submissions for 2020…they’re beautiful! This year’s winner is Maeve Croghan. […]