The Fresno State Winery (http://store.fresnostatewinery.com ) is the nation’s most
respected college winery since becoming the nation’s first commercially-bonded winery
on a university campus in 1997.
Also the nation’s largest on-campus university winery, its workforce relies on campus
viticulture and enology department students who get hands-on experience in all aspects
of the grape and wine production, which can help place them in jobs and internships
all around the world.
The winery is bonded to produce up to 10,000 cases a year, and normally sells up to
20 different varietals using premium grapes grown in the 120-acre campus vineyard
and from the Central Valley and Central Coast.
Fresno State wine club members can also purchase wines in three, four-bottle shipments
throughout the year and are invited to attend special campus winery events to meet
the students and winemaker who produce the wine.
The winery has won the Fresno Bee People’s Choice Award for best area winery in 2015,
2016, 2017 and 2018, as well as 300 wine awards at the state’s and nation’s finest
wine competitions (such as the L.A. International, Pacific Rim, San Francisco Chronicle,
San Joaquin Valley and Sunset Magazine).
Fresno State’s grape-growing and wine-making reputation is globally known thanks to
its campus viticulture that department that was started in 1948 by long-time department
and research chair Dr. Vincent E. Petrucci before he retired in 1993.
Fresno State winery production and students are overseen by winemaker Tom Montgomery
and marketing/sales manager Kevin Smith.
At the Fresno State Winery we strive to engage our students in all aspects of the
winemaking profession at the nation's first and largest commercial winery on a college
campus.
This process begins with vineyard consultations and wine-grape research that insures
the winery receives the best possible fruit and ends with the students using state-of-the-art
winemaking procedures, under the direction of our winemaker to make superior wine.
The experience doesn’t end there; after the wine is bottled our student-winemakers
then help in the marketing and selling of these products. Under the supervision of
our marketing manager, students participate in community outreach events and brand
management. This gives them the necessary training to be successful promoters and
marketers of their own wines in the future and also benefits many charity and community
related events.
Students produce up to 10,000 cases of 20 or more varietals each year of red, white
and rose' wines. Grapes are sourced from the 120-acre campus vineyard, the San Joaquin
Valley and other nationally-respected areas throughout California.
Wines are available year round at our Gibson Farm Market on campus or through our Fresno State Wine Club (that offers shipments three times annually, special events, exclusive wines, and
discounts).
Click here to visit the Fresno State Winery on Facebook!