When Art Meets Wine: My Year as Artist of the Year at Wente Vineyards
In 2019, I was invited into a collaboration that remains one of the most meaningful chapters of my career as a painter. I was selected by jury as the Artist of the Year for Wente Family Vineyards, a vineyard with deep roots in California’s winemaking tradition and a reputation for excellence.
As part of this partnership, I was asked to design five original wine labels for their Artist Series collection. Each label became a canvas, not just for paint, but for story. I wanted to capture the same sense of richness and layered texture that I bring to my landscapes, translated into the language of wine: depth, body, and time.
For one year, I also had the honor of exclusively exhibiting my work in Wente’s tasting room. Every few months, I attended private release parties with their members, signing bottles, sharing stories, and watching as my paintings found homes with collectors who connected to both the wine and the art.
It was a busy year, and I’ll admit, I didn’t post as much as I should have at the time. I was immersed in the experience: the design process, the events, the connections. Looking back, I realize how valuable it is to pause and reflect on collaborations like this.
What I Learned
Art as Experience: Art doesn’t live only on a wall. It can be woven into everyday rituals, like opening a bottle of wine, and become part of memory-making.
Partnerships Elevate Both Sides: Wente’s wines carried my art into hundreds of homes, and my art gave their wines a visual story. Together, the impact was stronger than either of us could have created alone.
Collectors Value Connection: Signing bottles, telling the stories behind the paintings, and seeing faces light up reminded me that art is as much about presence as it is about product.
Looking Forward
This collaboration showed me what’s possible when art meets lifestyle, when creativity partners with legacy. It planted a seed for the kind of future collaborations I want to continue building: immersive, high-end experiences that bring art off the canvas and into people’s lives.
Even though it’s been a few years, the spirit of that project is alive in my work today, every time I think about how art can cross boundaries, elevate experiences, and create connection in unexpected ways.
✨ If you’re part of a brand, gallery, or space that values immersive, textured experiences, I’d love to connect. Collaborations like Wente remind me: when art meets life, something unforgettable happens.