Cal Poly Pomona’s award-winning Horsehill Vineyards is uncorking its first wines wrapped in labels created by CPP students.
The collaborative project between three colleges on campus included picking the grapes, creating the label for the wine bottle and marketing the product.
The Don B. Huntley College of Agriculture and The Collins College of Hospitality Management work with Horsehill Vineyards, who branched out for a fruitful partnership with visual communication design students from the College of Environmental Design (ENV) to rebrand the labels for the 2017 Zinfandel and 2019 Zinfandel Rosé wines.
The winning design sought to evoke the university’s heritage and the iconography that celebrates what it means to be a Bronco. These labels were produced by 2020 graduating seniors Christian Venegas and Kazu Iwasawa and alumna Sarah Martinez (’19).
“Honestly, it is a bittersweet feeling since commencement is postponed due to the pandemic,” Iwasawa said. “However, the fact that my team won the design for the new Horsehill Vineyards wine label is very significant and definitely the biggest achievement that I accomplished during my college life.”
Grown on vines from historic lineage in CPP’s campus vineyards, the grapes are harvested by The College of Agriculture agronomy farm staff, with the help of students from the college, and then transported to be produced and bottled by South Coast Winery in Temecula. Meanwhile, The Collins College students create sales and marketing strategies to help promote and sell the wine once it arrives on campus.
“We’re proud to preserve part of our region’s agricultural heritage while also offering our students hands-on experience with growing and harvesting wine grapes,” said Dave Matias, director of farm operations. “We’re grateful that we’re still able to release these wines during these difficult and unprecedented times.”
The current selection is the perfect commemorative gift for graduates, alumni, or even for dads as Father’s Day nears. Horsehill Vineyards is available to purchase at CPP’s Farm Store at Kellogg Ranch and Innovation Brew Works.
The Rosé is $14 per bottle plus tax, while the Red Zinfandel will retail for $20 plus tax. The Farm Store can make gift baskets with the wine to be shipped to customers. Customers can call the Farm Store at (909) 869-4906 to place an order and make a payment.