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Enology grad named 'Winemaker of Year'

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By Tom Uribes

Fresno State's viticulture and enology program keeps pulling off one coup after another with news that one Bulldog alumnus was recently selected as "Winemaker of the Year" by the San Francisco Chronicle while another was spotlighted in the Chronicle's Wine magazine.

Ed Sbragia, a 1975 Fresno State graduate with a degree in enology and now with Beringer Vineyards, was named the San Francisco Chronicle 2001 Winemaker of the Year in its Nov. 4 issue.

Eric Stern, a 1987 Fresno State enology alumnus now with Landmark Vineyards, was featured in the Oct. 24 Chronicle as one of the top winemakers in the state.

Already distinguished for winning state and international awards since 1997 with its wines from vineyards on and off campus, Fresno State is also known as the first and only university in the nation that has a commercial license to produce, bottle and sell wine - all factors that recently led to statewide exposure on the California Heartland Series that airs on PBS television.

A third alum, local winemaker Bret Engelman, also was spotlighted recently in local news and was featured for winning statewide accolades as well as interviewed for the PBS show.

Two weeks ago, Engelman held an open house at his Engelmann Cellars in Fresno, where he showcased his Sangiovese wine that won a gold medal at the California State Fair this summer. Engelman is the first Fresno State enology alumnus to win the state honor and also was part of the 1998 class that won the university its first state fair gold medal.

"To get such an award my first year out of college is phenomenal," Engelman said. "I couldn't have done it without what I learned at Fresno State."

From Dec. 14-16, Engelman is opening his Engelmann Cellar boutique and winery to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for tours and holiday shopping featuring not only his wines but apparel and other Christmas gifts. The winery is at 3275 N. Rolinda between Shields and Dakota Avenues, six miles west of Freeway 99.

Fresno State winemaster Kenneth Fugelsang said the successes of Sbragia, Stern and Engelman adds more feathers to the program's cap and reflects many similar Fresno State success stories.

"We are really proud that these alumni, and others, have risen to the heights they have in the industry, "Fugelsang said. "We hold them up as role models for our present students to see the kinds of opportunities that await them. We hope the industry will see that the graduates that Fresno State produces become high quality caliber winemakers for the industry."

Winemaker of the Year Sbragia is the senior vice president and winemaster for Beringer Vineyards in St. Helena.

After earning a degree in chemistry at the University of California at Davis and starting a career as a scientist at the E & J Gallo research station laboratory in Modesto, he came to Fresno State to study enology.

Stern has been the winemaker for Landmark Vineyards in Sonoma Valley since 1993.

A native of New York, Stern graduated in 1969 with a degree in anthropology from New York University's Washington Square College. In 1983, he enrolled in Fresno State for four years to obtain an undergraduate major in enology.

At the California State Fair this summer, Fresno State's 1999 Barbera Linden Hills Vineyards received a gold medal with a high 94 rating and a prestigious Best of Class in Region super award - making the 1999 Barbera a nine-time award winner for the winemakers and students in the enology program.

The 1999 Barbera was produced from grapes grown in San Joaquin County at Duarte Nursery's Linden Hills Vineyard.

Two other medal winners at this competition include a silver medal for Fresno State's 1999 Syrah Saviez Farms and a bronze medal for their 2000 White Zinfandel, both produced from grapes grown in Fresno County, proving again that the Central Valley produces quality grapes.

The university continues to improve its facility including a new state-of-the-art barrel room that is currently under construction at the campus winery and due for completion in March 2002. Brad Boswell and his sister Amie Boswell Dewane of World Cooperage Company donated funds for the room.

Back to University Journal, 12/10/01 Issue