Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, the duo behind one of the world’s most successful luxury brands, Dolce & Gabbana, are known for their clothing, shoes, jewelry, perfume and accessories. Now, in a collaboration with Sicilian winery Donnafugata, they’ve added “wine label designers” to their resumes.
Last summer, they released the Donnafugata Dolce & Gabbana Rosa, a rosé wine from Sicily, and they now celebrate the launch of Donnafugata D&G Tancredi red wine. This limited-edition bottling is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Nero d’Avola and Tannat. Wine Enthusiast asked the designers about their new venture.
Why do you think the partnership between Dolce & Gabbana and Donnafugata feels natural?
Domenico Dolce: We started collaborating with Donnafugata in 2017, accompanying the Alta Moda events in Palermo with the most prestigious wines from the cellar. We share the same values, the love for our native land, the attention to details, the artisanship…handmade with passion and dedication.
How does this collaboration further your ethos, “Made in Italy”?
DD: We want to bring the colors, scents, traditions, history and culture of Italy, and in particular of Sicily, to every corner of the world. “Made in Italy” is a value. We are privileged to live in a country that has an incredible artistic and cultural heritage. We are proud to be able to give light, with our work, to its beauty and that this commitment is internationally recognized.
What was your inspiration for the label and packaging of Donnafugata Rosa?
Stefano Gabbana: For the packaging of Rosa and Tancredi, we wanted a layout that is immediately recognizable and close to our creativity. For Rosa, we took inspiration from the Sicilian cart [a colorful horse-drawn carriage], which represents the Sicilian artistry, culture and tradition all over the world, and we have delivered its graphics in soft colors, close to those of pink.
What imagery did you use for the Tancredi label?
SG: For Tancredi…we have chosen to use a visual that combines tradition and modernity. Gold, blue and baroque-inspired lines refer to the prestige of the aristocracy, while red, green and geometries evoke the revolutionary values established in Sicily after the unification of Italy.
What are some of your other food, wine or cooking collaborations?
DD: We are Italian. We love to eat well and drink good wine. The collaborations that bind us to the world of food, and more generally to that of cooking, are different—Pastificio di Martino, Fiasconaro, Smeg—and we are happy to carry them on because they allow us to express our creativity and our values always in a different and new way.
Did you learn anything new in this process?
SG: It was very interesting to discover the elegance and accuracy that lie behind the creation of a new wine, another element that unites these two realities.
Last Updated: May 8, 2023
