VINEYARD VIGNETTES Matías Riccitelli labels, by Marcos López

After a chance meeting at a wine store, fellow Argentines Matías Riccitelli and Marcos López, an oenologist and a photographer respectively, decided to collaborate on the winemaker’s latest releases. Mendoza-based Riccitelli takes pride in eye-catching labels – his Hey! Malbec features a turquoise cartoon superhero – and he gave López carte blanche to stamp his vibrant Latin-pop portraits on the 2016 Blanco de la casa (a Sauvignon Blanc/ Sémillon/chardonnay blend) and Tinto de la casa (Malbec). López shot the images in Buenos Aires’ Il Piccolo Vapore, taking advantage of the canteen’s murals and collection of penguin-shaped jugs, vessels traditionally used in Argentina to serve house wine. ‘It’s a valiant risk for the winery not only to use photographs on the label but also to portray melancholic characters,’ says López. What’s more, the branding has deliberately been relegated to the back label. It’s not just the labels that are captivating; critic James Suckling gave the Blanco 95 points in June. Sorrel Moseley-williams From £24, from Hallgarten Druitt, hdnwines.co.uk