UPM Adhesive Materials has announced a curated collection of Premium Performance label materials for wine and spirits packaging. Each material has been selected for its advanced converting properties, exceptional performance in the wine and spirits sector and ability to elevate brand and consumer experience. The collection is featured in a new sample folder, available in European, North American, South American and Asia-Pacific markets.

With the global premium alcoholic beverages market expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.89% and reach $1.686 trillion by 2034, it’s clear why the global wine and spirits industry is increasingly focused on premiumization. As brands aim to differentiate their products through outstanding packaging designs and materials, UPM’s new label material sample folder helps printers convey premium options to their customers.

The folder showcases five label materials, each paired with a printed sample that demonstrates how UPM’s materials perform with complex designs and rich embellishments. Alongside these, unprinted sheets with removable labels provide technical specifications and allow printers to test the adhesive performance and on-bottle application of the materials.  

These label materials are part of UPM’s Premium Performance portfolio that is tested and trusted by partners across the value chain. Engineered to perform under demanding conditions, such as ice bucket submersion, they deliver high wet opacity, strong adhesion and moisture resistance. Printers can also count on secure supply and superior mechanical properties compatible with high-speed converting and print finishing.

“Printers working with wine and spirits brands face high expectations for both visual impact and technical reliability. Our premium label materials are designed to meet these demands, ensuring smooth converting and consistent performance throughout the product lifecycle,” says Lisbeth Saarinen, senior manager, Global Marketing at UPM Adhesive Materials.

Value chain collaboration brings premium experience to life

To bring these materials to life, UPM partnered with design agencies worldwide to create five distinctive label designs for regionally significant alcoholic beverages. The designers were given free rein to express their cultural identity and interpretation of the premium experience. The featured designs include:

–         Champagne, Italy: Robilant

–         Baijiu, China: Excel Design Shenzen

–         White wine, Australia: Denomination

–         Bourbon, USA: Dando Projects

–         Tequila, Argentina: Tridimage X Boldrini & Ficcardi X JVD X INFINITO X LIP

“Premium today is about more than esthetics – it’s about storytelling, cultural richness and emotional connection. We collaborated with four other Latin American design agencies to create the tequila label DIVERSA: a shared concept that celebrates diversity through design. UPM’s premium label materials allowed us to use intricate embellishments and fine details with confidence,” describes Hernán Braberman, creative director at Tridimage.

To execute these designs, UPM partnered with leading surface finish company, KURZ, and global producer of high-precision stamping tools, H+M, for hot stamping transfer materials and tooling, and Grafical for expert printing. Additional collaboration with expert producers of glass packaging and closures, Verallia and Vinolok, further underscores the strong value chain partnerships behind each label concept.