Fans Of Georges Duboeuf Choose Original Art To Inaugurate The "Artist Collector Series" For Beaujolais Nouveau

Azzopardi is a mixed-media artist from St. Petersburg, Fla., with a BFA in painting and sculpture. Her creative process is driven by spontaneity, and focuses on form, color and energy.

"We are dedicating this vintage to the creators, dreamers, builders—anyone who is passionate about what they do," winery founder Georges Duboeuf said. "This artist competition and Ms. Azzopardi's work perfectly capture this sentiment."

For the first time, artists from a number of backgrounds submitted their label designs for a chance to win up to $5,000 in grants. Jon Lutz, a Brooklyn-based art curator who has worked with emerging artists for the past 12 years, chose the 13 finalists from over 200 submissions.

Last year's label (the 2016 vintage) was also chosen by voting on social media, but entries came from professional graphic designers.

Les Vins Georges Duboeuf has a history of commissioning artist-designed labels for its Beaujolais Nouveau, as far back as the 1980s. The tradition of Nouveau began with the wine growers themselves who would celebrate the end of the harvest with this young wine. Bottled six to eight weeks after the grapes are harvested; Beaujolais Nouveau is fresh, fruity and vibrant.

SOURCE Quintessential Wines