Case Study: Pied à Terre

The Lowdown:

• Platform Cleanup: We took the tangled mess in Vinoshipper and smoothed it out like Pantene Pro-V. Out with the frizz, in with the shine–we ensured all wine details were up-to-date and consistent.

• Information Overhaul: Developed a solid framework for tech sheets and product info to sync with the website. Now, when you see a wine online, it’s exactly what Richard's got in his cellar. No more mix-ups or disappointed customers.

• Diversified Sales Channels: Beyond just selling bottles, we rolled out a wine club, and monthly subscriptions, and put a spotlight on in-person tasting events. Multiple ways for Richard to rack up those sales.

• Marketing Cohesion: Unified all sales materials to match the sleek new website. Updated menus and customer info cards to make everything look tight and professional at events.

• Future-Proofed Success: Gave Richard the tools and the know-how to keep things running smoothly. His website’s a stunner, sales are diversified, and his customers are loving the new experience.

The Background:

We got introduced to Richard by this guy who knows a guy who knows a guy. Now, Richard's a bit of a character—a New York City chap who's bonkers about wine. He had a website, but it was like an old, dusty bottle—needed some serious refreshment. The one thing Richard knows better than anyone? Vino, bruh.

The Process:

Richard didn’t give us much to go on, just that he wanted a fresh, great-looking site to showcase and sell his wines. It was a challenge and a blank canvas all rolled into one. We dug deep into what makes Richard and his wines tick. After three prototypes hit the trash, we had our lightbulb moment—Richard is Pied à Terre, and Pied à Terre is Richard. They’re inseparable.

Richard's got this black-and-white personality, no room for compromise or unnecessary frills, just like his wine. We applied this realization to the website's design—elegant, minimal, and unapologetic. Inspired by exhibits at the Dallas Museum of Art, we used black and white to represent Richard’s no-nonsense approach. The website looks sleek and simple at first glance, like an unopened bottle of wine. But hover over the images, and they burst into color, just like Richard comes alive when he talks about his passion.

The Challenges:

Richard’s a wizard with wine, but getting him to chat about his vision for the website was like pulling teeth. We researched, we brainstormed, we mood-boarded our hearts out. Richard liked everything we showed him, but he couldn’t nail down exactly what he wanted. He’s a classic New Yorker—no time for chit-chat, and we respect that. But it made the project a bit tricky.

The Highlights:

Despite the hurdles, we hit the jackpot with our final design. We couldn’t wait to show Richard, so we revealed the whole site on a weekly update call. His reaction? Pure gold. He called it a “masterpiece” and said it blew away all his expectations. Mission accomplished.

The Influences:

Richard always said, “Wine is about bringing people together.” We wanted to capture that spirit. So, we grabbed our cameras and snapped hundreds of photos at one of his wine-tasting events—people laughing, chatting, and enjoying Pied à Terre wines. It was crucial to reflect this vibe on the website.

The Demands:

The biggest challenge was working with minimal input, but we were game. We created not just a stunning, user-friendly e-commerce site but an authentic digital representation of Richard, his passion for wine-making, and the community spirit he fosters. With this new site, Pied à Terre is ready to take on the digital world, one bottle at a time.

piedaterrewine.com