BRAND DESIGN
THE BACKSTORY
Founded in 2009 by two best friends, Grove 45 has always been something of an outlier—in the best way. A proudly woman-owned and operated olive oil company, Grove 45 took cues from the structure of Napa Valley wineries, but carved out a category of its own with a bespoke tasting room and a mission rooted in education, quality, and community.
By 2019, with new ownership stepping in and a legacy to honor, Grove 45 was ready for a fresh chapter. That’s where we came in.
THE CHALLENGE
How do you modernize a brand that already has character, charm, and a loyal following—without losing its soul? Grove 45 had never undergone a full brand overhaul. Our task was to build something that felt elevated and strategic, but still playful, offbeat, and deeply personal.
OUR APPROACH
✧ Reconnect to Self
We began with the big questions: What makes Grove 45 different? What emotional notes does it hit? What stories need to be told more clearly? From there, we built a brand identity grounded in the values that already lived at its core.
✧ Color & Aesthetic
Inspired by the Grove 45 tasting room, we leaned into a calming but energetic palette—rosé, cream, olive leaf, and liquid gold. These choices struck the balance between warmth and sophistication, designed to speak directly to the core audience: women aged 25–45.
✧ Visual Personality
We introduced custom hand-drawn illustrations, quippy headlines, and expressive typography that gave the brand a recognizable and ownable look. The voice? Confident, educational, and never too serious. Because olive oil can (and should) be fun.
✧ Core Messaging Framework
We structured the brand’s storytelling around a three-part value system:
Story – honoring Grove 45’s unique origin and ownership
Education – helping demystify EVOO with warmth and authority
Lifestyle – positioning olive oil as a daily ritual and culinary companion
THE RESULT
Grove 45 emerged with a brand that felt entirely their own: thoughtful, spirited, and unmistakably Napa. From packaging to social content, everything now flows from a place of intention—and reflects the bold, feminine energy that’s always defined them.