All FLCC Synthesis label wines medal at New York Wine Classic

FLCC's student-made Synthesis wines shined at the New York Wine Classic, with all six winning medals.

All six wines bottled in 2021 under the Synthesis label at the Finger Lakes Community College Viticulture and Wine Center were awarded medals in the New York Wine Classic competition this summer.

The wines are produced by FLCC students under faculty instruction as part of their work toward a viticulture and wine technology degree or certificate.

Medals are as follows:

Gold Medal: Empire White Bland
Gold Medal: Empire Red Blend
Gold Medal: Rose, Blaufrankisch
Silver Medal: Chardonnay
Silver Medal: Riesling
Bronze Medal: Cabernet Franc

The New York Wine Classic, an annual competition organized by the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, included 749 entries from 108 wineries from across the state. Judges awarded 10 Platinum, 320 Gold, 294 Silver, and 81 Bronze medals. Full information is available at newyorkwines.org. FLCC has received medals in every New York Wine Classic since 2016.

Students in the viticulture and wine technology two-year degree and one-year certificate programs produce commercial wines that are available at Ryan’s Wine and Spirits in Canandaigua and Pedulla’s Wine and Liquor in Geneva. Orders can also be arranged via the Viticulture and Wine Center Request Form.

The Synthesis label was created by Emer O’Brien, a 2023 graphic design graduate. Every fall graphic design students present designs in a competition to select a label for the wine that will be bottled the following spring. Graphic design students present their work during an event at the FLCC Viticulture and Wine Center in Geneva to viticulture and wine technology students, who vote to select a winner. The winemaking and label design are part of the college’s emphasis on hands-on learning that aligns with current industry practices.