Bento

With East Asian cuisine accounting for 35% of all food delivery in Australia , and with the ethnic food market projected to more than double by 2032, Fourth Wave identified a clear white-space opportunity: a wine designed specifically to pair with Asian cuisine, particularly Japanese food. The brief was not only about liquid, but clarity: creating a brand that would remove the intimidation around wine pairing for a broad, urban audience who eat out regularly but may lack deep wine knowledge.

Denomination created Bento: a striking, cool and characterful wine brand that signals its purpose instantly. Drawing on the visual language of Japanese culture, the identity features warm, old-school illustrations of distinctly Japanese characters, balancing quirk and friendliness to create a highly memorable shelf presence. A vertical logotype echoes Japanese typography, while a custom stamp - inspired by the “Speciality of the House” marks found in Japanese restaurants - clearly communicates the brand’s role: Specially made for Japanese & Asian food.

Every design element reinforces cultural relevance, from vertically stacked varietal information housed in an elongated lozenge, to the use of red typographic accents referencing traditional Japanese art, and a capsule inspired by blue-toned Japanese ceramics. The result is a wine brand that feels confident, approachable and purpose-built, meeting modern consumers at the intersection of food, culture and everyday drinking occasions.