FLCC students select wine label inspired by sacred geometry and the stars

Second-year Finger Lakes Community College students in the viticulture and wine technology program selected a wine label designed by graphic design student, Alexis Ecker.

Second-year Finger Lakes Community College students in the viticulture and wine technology program selected a wine label designed by Alexis Ecker, a graphic design student from Eden, Erie County.  

The label will be used on bottles of wine the viticulture students produced this fall and will bottle next spring as part of their educational program. 

Ecker’s brand design Astrae Via, Latin for the way of the stars, incorporates sacred geometry and navigation elements that represent the viticulture students navigating the art of winemaking.  

“I am beyond excited and grateful to be a part of this whole process and to have this opportunity,” said Ecker.  

The annual wine label competition at the FLCC Viticulture and Wine Center in Geneva is a highlight event for students, faculty, staff and the community. 

During the gallery-style reception for the competition, the viticulture students had the opportunity to listen to 17 graphic design students present their labels and ask any questions that would help their decision-making process. A final vote was done by the student winemakers to determine their preferred label. 

Designing Astrae Via

All elements within the Astrae Via design were hand-drawn by Ecker before being uploaded into Adobe Illustrator to add a layout and text. The use of stars, a compass intertwined with a flower of life, and the flower petals all connect to the college’s values of interconnectedness and vitality. “The six flower petals represent the (viticulture students) and the connection between them on the journey of winemaking,” said Ecker. She also attributes her use of stars within the design as a way to let her winemaking classmates know “to reach for the stars in all that they pursue.” 

To ensure her design meets legal requirements for alcoholic beverage labels, Ecker will work with viticulture students, graphic design instructor, Margaret Pence, and the viticulture and wine technology coordinator, Gina Lee, to fine tune her design. She will continue her work to create labels for all the varieties being produced.  

As the contest winner, Ecker will receive a $500 scholarship and internship opportunity from Niagara Label.  

“I’ve loved my whole experience here. Everyone is personable and willing to help with anything,” she said. Set to graduate in spring 2025, Ecker is interested in continuing her academic journey in graphic design or visual communications. Upon graduation, she will join her father, Greg Ecker ’88, as an FLCC alum. 

What's next?

In spring 2025 viticulture students will bottle the Astrae Via brand wines, which will be available for purchase in the future. FLCC-made wines are sold at Ryan’s Wine and Spirits in Canandaigua and Pedulla’s Wine and Liquor in Geneva.  

Graphic design students will have the opportunity to participate in additional design competitions, including designing the 2025 Spring Arts Festival poster and the summer concert series poster and apparel for the Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC). 

For an online tour of the FLCC Viticulture and Wine Center and an online form for ordering wine directly from the college, visit the wine center webpage at flcc.edu/viticulture-center. 

Information about the viticulture and wine technology and the graphic design programs can be found on the College website at flcc.edu.