Telling a Legendary Brand Story

In summer of 2023 Transom was approached by Enkidu, a Sonoma winery with a long history of making excellent wine. Over the next few months we helped give a contemporary feel to a timeless story.

In 2003 founder and winemaker Phile Stahele named Enkidu after a character in the ancient poem The Epic of Gilgamesh. The character Enkidu was created by the gods and brought from the wilderness to moderate king Gilgamesh’s most tyrannical tendencies. The two would become friends (some say lovers) and much of the epic is dedicated to their adventures.

The Challenge:

New ownership at the winery looked to capture younger, more diverse drinkers to support increased production. But Enkidu’s origin story is ancient and obscure. How do we connect it to what matters now?

Transom's solution was to dive deep into the ancient story of Enkidu to find a core theme that better applied to present-day concerns, creating language and imagery to authentically connect to a younger audience.

"In ancient Sumarian, the character of Enkidu represents a voice for nature. Pure, principled, and adventurous, it calls us to rediscover the balance between ourselves and the natural world. Join us as we explore the exceptional character of Sonoma Valley."

Our messaging work focused on finding new balance through ancient inspiration. Through sustainable farming and minimal intervention winemaking the brand is able to connect with both seasoned drinkers and younger audiences.

A Sticky Visual Identity Refinement

Th ancient Sumarians used cuneiform, one of the earliest forms of writing, made by reed tips pressed into clay. The extant Enkidu mark utilized a version of cuneiform to write the three symbols for EN-KI-DU, however the marks caused confusion, leading some who entered the tasting room to inquire about sushi service. We divorced the wordmark from the cuneiform and adjusted the kerning, and created a new cuneiform sample of the name using real clay. It’s not every day you learn a new writing style.

Photography

We know photos are hugely powerful ways of conveying story, so one of our top priorities was to create imagery that set Enkidu apart from so many other Sonoma Valley wineries. We emphasized its passion for real work in the fields and brought in a diverse group of models to emphasize the brand’s inclusiveness.

Putting it together on the Web

After defining the brand and creating imagery we designed a new website for Enkidu, complete with custom illustrations and a fully integrated Commerce7 storefront. We partnered with web development firm Blue Otter to build the site.

Continuing to Move the Brand Forward:

The team at Enkidu are dedicated to creating delicious wine through humble partnership with the earth. Their values have led them to nurture and cultivate decades-long relationships specific vineyards, build community through their wine clubs, and lately, experiment with creating lower-alcohol wines. We're thrilled to be partners with brands like Enkidu.

Have a brand that needs new inspiration? Reach out to us at [email protected] or book a 15 minute consultation for free. Want to get industry insights, inspiration, and useful knowledge in your inbox? Join Transom's no-fluff mailing list.