Laura Lopez, a graphic design student at Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) from Colombia, has won the annual wine label design contest for the college’s 2023 wine vintages. Her winning design, titled “Fresca Leyenda” (Spanish for “Fresh Legend”), combines elements of tradition and modernity, reflecting the rich wine culture of the region.
Lopez’s design, filled with symbolism, features colors and motifs representing the sun’s reflection on the Finger Lakes, the college’s values of inquiry and vitality, and her Colombian heritage. This victory brought Lopez immense joy and validation for her hard work and creativity. Participating in this competition was a significant factor in her decision to study at FLCC, as it offered her a real-world experience in integrating viticulture and graphic design.
The label design process involved collaboration between FLCC’s graphic design and viticulture students. Graphic design students, after gathering insights from their viticulture peers, presented their concepts at the FLCC Viticulture and Wine Center in Geneva, where the viticulture students voted on their preferred label. Lopez, also a fullback for the Lakers women’s soccer team, will now work alongside viticulture students and faculty to refine her design to meet legal requirements for alcoholic beverage labels.
In addition to Lopez’s winning label, the contest recognized runners-up Kenzie Smith and Zach Abraham and an honorable mention for Amanda Sierant. The “Fresca Leyenda” brand wines will be bottled in spring 2024 and sold at local wine retailers.
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