A wine label designed by a California State University, Fresno alumnus that will be used on the Chancellor’s Select Cabernet Sauvignon — a special wine made in conjunction with Santa Rosa Junior College — was revealed at a special presentation today.

Adriana Shmahalo, who graduated in 1999 with an M.A. in Art (graphic design option), was awarded a $100 prize for winning a label design contest sponsored by the university’s commercial wine program, Fresno State Vineyards, in search of a student-designed label to represent Fresno State’s wines.

An enlarged version of Shmahalo’s winning design was unveiled and is also available at the www.fresnostatenews.com website.

The presentation, held at the campus winery at 2360 E. Barstow Ave., included Jason Grossman, president of Paragon Labels in Petaluma, who presented a $5,000 donation to the Fresno State program and announced that Paragon will produce and distribute the new labels at a discount price for the enology program.

Grossman also explained the company’s new label technology and how it utilizes laser beams to enhance the art design. Paragon label, with facilities in Northern California, has more than 20 years experience in the nation’s label market. It’s a division of Mrs. Grossman’s Paper Company, also in Petaluma.

Dr. Robert Wample, Viticulture and Enology Department chair, expressed his appreciation for the label company’s contributions to the academic program.

“Paragon’s support of our programs starts a new relationship for Fresno State and demonstrates how academia and the industry can work hand in hand to improve the winemaking field,” Wample said.

He also lauded the participation of the Fresno State Art Department in the label contest, which attracted more than 25 student participants and was organized by a spring 2000 enology intern, David Sunburg.

“This relationship between the art and enology departments prove that partnerships at Fresno State are very beneficial for all participants,” Wample said.

The Chancellor’s Select Cabernet Sauvignon is also a unique educational partnership with Santa Rosa Junior College, said Ken Fugelsang, Fresno State winemaster.

The grapes for the special wine were grown in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma during the project that began in 1998 and resulted in a harvest of five tons of grapes. Fresno State students then handcrafted the grapes and each school received 125 cases.

“This is a prime example of the continuing partnership Fresno State has with community colleges throughout California,” Fugelsang said. “This extraordinary wine honors the outstanding educational achievements and advancements of these and other California educational institutions.”

The Chancellor’s Select Wine currently retails for $24.99 exclusively at the Fresno State Farm Market on Barstow and Chestnut Avenues at the east end of the campus. Proceeds from the sale of Fresno State wines help finance the educational endeavors of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Fugelsang said.

Fresno State is the first and only university in the nation that is licensed to produce, bottle and sell wine commercially. This summer, three wines won gold, silver and bronze medals at North American’s largest wine judging, the California State Fair Wine Competition.

For more information, contact Wample at 278-2089.