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Wine
RHODE ISLAND RED NV
Sakonnet’s Rhode Island Red is New England's signature red wine, a hearty blend of three different grape varieties grown at its estate vineyards here in Rhode Island. With medium body and clean finish, its deep ruby color and silky tannins are complemented by delicious aromas of raspberry and a subtle hint of toasted American oak. Two Rhode Island institutions hatched an eye-catching combination of the arts of winemaking and graphic design and in 2004 a team of artists from the Rhode Island School of Design's Graphic Design Graduate Student Studio created the red-and-black labels for Sakonnet’s Rhode Island Red wine. Inspired by the legendary artist label series of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Sakonnet initiated the cooperation with RISD, and the proprietors, Susan and Earl Samson, provided a $1,000 reward for the winning label to support the RISD Graphic Design students. The design had to comply will all federal regulations for wine labels but otherwise allowed for the fullest artistic freedom of the students. The students produced an extraordinary array of design concepts that made it almost impossible for the winery and vineyard staff at Sakonnet to choose just a single label. Naturally, Sakonnet Vineyards is looking forward to making this label design competition an ongoing cooperation that will give RISD grad students another opportunity to see their creative efforts appreciated by native Rhode Islanders near and far and by the many visitors to the Ocean State.