Client Brief
Jan Scannell, former Managing Director for Distell Group Limited, and his wife, Marietjie are the kind of clients every studio hopes to have the good fortune of working with at least once – salt of the earth individuals who enjoy working with you as much as you enjoy working with them.
The couple owns a boutique olive farm just off Route 62, in the Matjies Valley, a secluded haven with a luscious microclimate in the foothills of the Swartberg Mountain Range, just 16 km from Calitzdorp. The farm is their pride and joy and it is here that they produce small volumes of olives and olive oil, which they sell only on the farm.
The olive oil has its own very specific flavour and aroma characteristics – the result of the unique terroir and olive cultivars.
The farm is also home to four self-catering cottages, all of which are steeped in history, and have been lovingly and authentically restored. Spectacular mountain views, together with the mixed farming activities of the valley, offer guests a tranquil setting in which to relax and unwind.
When Jan and his wife approached us, it was with an open brief to create a corporate identity for Middelplaas and the Matjiesvlei cottages, as well as packaging for their olives and olive oil. With the farm being so close to their hearts, the project was a very personal one and from the start, they included their children in the decision-making process. The Scannell’s had just two requests: 1) that the CI capture something of a vintage South African feel and 2) that they be able to apply the packaging to the bottles themselves, as every part of the process is handled on the farm.
