Art
Labels and Culture
The Inama style is iconic and unmistakable, inspired by the timeless beauty of Palladian architecture.
Our wine labels celebrate a defining moment in Veneto’s cultural history, reflecting the artistic journey of Vicentine architect Andrea Palladio under the Republic of Venice. Between the 15th and 16th centuries, Palladio reintroduced classical Greek and Roman elements through a modern lens, laying the foundation of Neoclassical style—from Venetian villas to the White House in Washington, D.C.
This aesthetic also appeared in the engravings of the time—old prints that defined books and documents up to the 17th century. The imperfect lines of engraving, combined with the study of classical typography, created a distinct graphic identity exchanged between universities such as Padua, Venice, Oxford, London, Paris, and Prague.
The First Phase
At the time of the first bottles, Stefano Inama sought the advice of Nicholas Wood, father of a university friend. Nicholas, a brilliant and eclectic artist passionate about Italian Neoclassicism, helped create the original Inama labels.
Using authentic prints by Palladio, Inigo Jones, and even from the Diderot & D’Alembert Encyclopédie, Nicholas photocopied, cut, and pasted images onto cardboard mock-ups—later faxed to Stefano. The result was the distinctive Inama label style: a blend of ancient books, photocopiers, scissors, glue, and imagination.
Insomma, libri antichi, fotocopiatrice, forbici, colla e fax. Con questi strumenti nacque lo stile di Inama. Ecco di seguito alcuni esempi dei cartoncini originali.
The Second Phase
Nicholas remained closely involved, designing labels for Vulcaia, Vulcaia Fumé, Vin Soave, Foscarino, Chardonnay, Campo dei Tovi, Du Lot, and Bradisismo (2000).
After his passing, a 15-year transitional period followed. Some labels—like early Carmenère Più and Oratorio (pen-drawn), and Carminium (watercolor)—reflect this search for direction.
It was with the arrival of Alessio Inama, a new creative force, and the meeting with architect Matteo Morelli, a collector of antique books and expert designer, that the new chapter began. Together, they created the labels for Carbonare, I Palchi, Carmenère Più, Oratorio, Vintage Collection, and Capital, along with the entire visual identity, posters, and packaging system.