HOPEWELL, NY — A new sparkling wine crafted by student winemakers at Finger Lakes Community College is now on sale.
The wine is a pét-nat, short for pétillant naturel, a French term that means naturally sparkling.
The wine is part of the 2024 Astrae Via collection produced by second-year students in FLCC’s Viticulture and Wine Technology program. Additional wines bottled this spring include a Polaris red, Polaris white and Riesling.
Love to try this FLCC student-made wine, but what is pét-nat?
The pét-nat uses wild yeast that grows on the grapes and is bottled before fermentation finishes, giving the wine natural bubbles.
“Traditionally sparkling wine is more of a dessert wine, but the pét-nat can go well with anything,” said student Gerald “Jerry” Decker of Farmington. “You can drink it on its own, with a meal, or even after a meal. It was a very versatile wine that we made.”
Alexis Ecker, a graphic design student from Eden, Erie County, designed the Astrae Via label. Astrae Via is Latin for the way of the stars.
Where to find FLCC student-made wine
The wines are available for purchase online through the FLCC Viticulture and Wine Center, a licensed and commercial winery.
Bottleland Wine and Spirits on William Street in Geneva carries the Polaris red and pét-nat for purchase, while additional vintages are available at Ryan’s Wine and Spirits in Canandaigua and Pedulla’s Wine and Liquor in Geneva.
Who are the FLCC student winemakers?
Along with Decker, this year’s student winemakers included Amanda Mott of Palmyra, Wayne County; Samuel Rocha of Naples, Ontario County; Makayla Ryder of Canandaigua; Rachel Wolfanger of Geneva; and Matthew Saunds of Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County.
The viticulture students also worked with local partners, including Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Finger Lakes Grape Program.
FLCC’s Viticulture and Wine Technology Program and the grape program jointly manage the Finger Lakes Teaching and Demonstration Vineyard at Anthony Road Wine Co., a vineyard donated to support the educational efforts of both programs.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: FLCC student-made wine is now on sale: Here’s what makes it unique
Reporting by Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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