TRINK Magazine:
Elevating ‘umlaut wines’ through digital storytelling
Problem
TRINK Magazine is the definitive English-language source for stories from German-speaking wine regions—Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Südtirol. As a deeply editorial, contributor-driven publication, TRINK needed more than a visual refresh—they needed a platform that could grow with them.
Background
TRINK is an independent digital magazine about the wines of German-speaking Europe, founded in 2020 by Paula Redes Sidore in Germany and Valerie Kathawala in New York. For TRINK 2.0, the founders wanted a site that was easy to run and a better experience for readers, and a move of their members from Patreon to subscriptions on the site itself. The new site launched with Volume 17 in October 2023. Since then we have met regularly with the founders on strategy, from the membership model to the publishing schedule.
Solution
We rebuilt TRINK’s site from the ground up. The priority? Empowering the editorial team with a publishing system that felt intuitive, flexible, and scalable. From launching new issues to highlighting individual contributors, from managing memberships to preparing for future content formats, the site was restructured to meet TRINK’s ambitions as a modern, multilingual wine publication. The result is a refined user experience for both editors and readers—making it easier for curious wine lovers to discover in-depth content, and for TRINK’s team to publish with confidence.
“5forests has exceeded our wildest expectations. Polly Hammond and her team are some of the sharpest minds in the business. They put their ideas and expertise to work for you instantly — and never stop.
Paula Redes Sidore & Valerie Kathawala, Founders, TRINK Magazine
Their focus on tailoring the solution to fit the client is second to none. It comes down to this: they listen. They listened to what we needed then put their endless expertise and energy to work for us. They listened when we came back with questions and concerns. In a world of busy, we are continuously made to feel that we, and our concerns, matter.
From day one, we knew that 5forests was part of our team. That creative solutions and success were a shared goal. Best of all? Whether it’s a strategy meeting or a website build out, 5forests makes the toughest challenges feel easy and fun. There’s never any doubt that Polly and her team are as invested in our vision as we are.
5forests reminds us again and again to think big, take chances, talk honestly, and hold ourselves to high standards — theirs.”
Built for the people who make TRINK
TRINK 2.0 needed a look as considered as its writing, and a site its editors could publish to with confidence. The work started with the brand guidelines: the existing logo adapted for a modern editorial site, Midnight Green as the hero color, Clearface and EB Garamond for type, and a palette chosen for an easier read. Then came a publishing system that makes launching a new volume simple, a profile page for every contributor, and memberships that lead a reader from a gated article straight to the subscription plans.
Before and after
Project details
Client
TRINK Magazine
Region
Services
Fractional CMO services for wineries, Winery website hosting and maintenance, Winery websites
Website