The Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market is now offering free wine tasting every Friday and Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Nov. 6, 2021.
One Friday afternoon spent wine tasting offered the opportunity to taste five different wines, including several award winners.
Zi Hao, a Chinese student splitting his enology studies between Fresno State and Yantai, China, is spending part of his last semester in America hosting wine tasting sessions for market visitors.
Zi Hao, who goes by Amir Jiang in his Fresno State classes, poured three red and two white wines. The 2019 Albariño Saviez, Jiang said, was his favorite.
The Albariño, a white wine made from grapes from the Saviez Vineyards close to the San Joaquin River, has proven popular with many others. It was a gold-medal recipient at the 2021 San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers competition.
Market visitor Steve Dacuyan had a different first choice – his favorite was the 2018 Touriga, grown locally in the Fresno State Vineyard and boasting a “great taste of rich vanilla, toasty oak, pomegranate, plum and cherry.”
Dacuyan, who spent two years as a Bulldog before transferring to San Jose State, says he often feels “torn” during football games, but he wasn’t torn on all the Fresno State goodies available at the market. He ended up buying four bottles of wine, on top of another fan favorite available at the market.
“I got a text: pick up the ice cream,” Dacuyan said, referencing the beloved Fresno State treat.
Jiang, when asked which Fresno State treats he’d tried, also said the ice cream was a favorite of his.
Many wines at the Gibson Farm Market are made available through the efforts of viticulture and enology students such as Jiang.
Fresno State Winery’s website explains that all wines are “student-made right on the Fresno State campus,” with a portion of all wine sales going “to support Fresno State agriculture and the hands-on learning at campus.”
The campus winery is the nation’s first and largest-bonded commercial winery on a university campus, with Fresno State wines winning 300+ awards since the winery was established in 1997, according to Fresno State News.
The Gibson Farm Market sells various other items, mostly produced by Fresno State students including fresh fruit, meats, milk, jams, nuts, and chocolates.
For Bulldogs with a green thumb, houseplants are also available for $8, and fresh bunches of sunflowers for $7 while supplies last.
Fresno State-themed apparel and gift wrapping is also available at the market, along with prepackaged gift sets for any last minute presents.
Wine tasting is available now through Nov. 6. Visitors must be 21+ to attend.
The market itself is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Sundays. It is located at 5368 N. Chestnut Ave, next to Campus Pointe.