Fine from the Vine

Enology program continues its winning ways with four gold medals at the 14th annual 2004 New World competition

By Irene Thirlwall

Fresno State’s winery, the one and only commercial winery on a university campus, has once again won awards for its student produced wines.

In an awards ceremony in May, the winery will receive four gold medals: three best of class, and two best of variety.

The announcement of these awards was received at the 14th annual 2004 New World competition in Ontario earlier this year.

The New World competition is open to wines produced in North America, Central and South America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. There were more than 3,000 entries in the competition.

“ We are very pleased at our students’ performance at the New World Wine Competition,” Fresno State Winemaster Ken Fugelsang said. “We have exceeded our previous best record in terms of gold and other super awards for our wines.”

Among the wines that won were:

• 2002 Fresno County Orange Muscat

• 2003 San Joaquin County Primitivo Rosé

• 2002 Syrah

• 2002 Petite Syrah

• 2001 and 2002 Barbera Port.

Senior Brian Martin is an enology major who helped prepare the Primitivo Rosé and Syrah.

“ It is a good experience to actually get to see something we create,” Martin said.

Martin said he chose enology as a major because he wanted to stay connected with agriculture but also wanted to do something that involved science.

“ I think it’s a blend of art and science,” Martin said. “ There is a lot of chemistry involved.”

Students majoring in enology earn minors in chemistry due to the emphasis on science and chemistry within the program.

“ A lot of students change their major once they see the amount of chemistry involved,” Martin said.

Brian Strohmeyer, a graduate student who performs student research in the enology department, also participated in the winemaking.

“ The experience is definitely educational because you can see the fruit and the quality of the fruit,” Strohmeyer said. “Winning the awards makes you feel proud, knowing you had a hand in making a product that the industry acknowledged.”

About 130 students participate in the enology program. The winery competes in five competitions each year.