The Clif Family team was introduced to Reyna Noriega through a project with the LUNAFEST film festival team several years ago. We were immediately drawn to Reyna’s work, commenting on how beautiful and inspiring it would be on a wine label.
This excitement became a reality during the 2021 harvest season and the result is our 2021 Napa Valley Red Wine Blend collaboration.
We asked Reyna a few questions about her background and what inspires her art. We hope you enjoy!
RN: My father is an artist so one part of it comes from there, I was stealing his sketchbooks to doodle so many unrecognizable figures as a child. I took art as an elective in my 11th grade year in high school and fell in love! My classmates were so supportive of my journey, it really gave me the courage to take it seriously. Writing was something I discovered I was good at early in elementary school. My writing and English teachers would always encourage me to enter contests, and they would always pin up my work as examples. I guess as a young impressionable kid I was highly motivated by the praise!
RN: My work is inspired by a need to communicate with the hearts of others and encourage them to prioritize their peace, joy, and growth no matter where in life they might be. I tend to look at the barriers people may have to attaining those things and that has led me to focus on women of color as the primary subjects of my work.
RN: I was able to learn a lot about Clif Family thanks to my collaborations with Lunafest. That taught me a lot about the work they were also doing to provide support for marginalized individuals, especially women.
RN: So many things! It was so fun to work on this project because of all the things that go into making wine, the way it is consumed, etc. For me it came down to the ingredients, the movement of wine in a glass, and the rich colors of a red wine. You can see some blueberry and grape-like shapes and vines in my work, and then the hair on the subject flows in a way that personifies the swirling, I worked with colors that were deeper and richer than my normal choices. Overall, I loved this process.
RN: The people! I was greeted by such warm individuals who made my stay that much more enjoyable. Apart from that, all of the yummy food and wine I tried as well as the breathtaking landscapes made it a trip I will never forget.
RN: I want the wine to bring joy of course! I want it to give people a reason to sit and relax and enjoy the good company of loved ones while pondering the good days to come.
I’m currently on a white cheddar and prosciutto kick. I am looking forward to sharing the wine at a movie night with the girls along with these pairings.
There are so many! But I think I would choose Dalí because I would love to hear him talk through his process and where the visions for his work came from.
The Clif Family x Reyna Noriega Collaboration collection is now available for purchase.
SHOP THE COLLECTION: