Wine-By-Cougars, the precocious young wine club sponsored by the Washington State University Alumni Association, is adding art to its viticultural appeal. The wine club will offer a special “Artist Expression 2007,” a union of student art and alumni winemaking.

The wine club approached the digital design class taught in Fine Arts and asked students to design a wine label for a special spring release from Woodward Canyon, owned and operated by Rick Small ’69. Design students were instructed to reflect viticulture and the land-grant ideal on their labels. The label chosen is by Annette Ticknor ’07, a communication major and fine art student. (Full disclosure: Ticknor is an intern with Washington State Magazine this semester.)

Wine-By-Cougars was launched in May 2006 and has 200 members in 14 states. Members receive quarterly shipments of Washington wine with Cougar connections. Selections have included wines from Gordon Brothers, Columbia Crest, Whitman Cellars, Kestrel, and others. So far, 45 winemakers, vineyard managers, and winery owners are participating in the club.

A service of the Alumni Association, Wine-By-Cougars is owned and operated by the Walla Walla Wine Club and managed by Cassie Rothstrom ’87.

--Tim Steury

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