{"id":86768,"date":"2026-06-10T19:51:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T19:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/magazine\/?post_type=stories&p=86768"},"modified":"2026-06-10T19:51:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T19:51:40","slug":"decanting-scholarships","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/magazine\/news\/decanting-scholarships\/","title":{"rendered":"Decanting Scholarships"},"content":{"rendered":"
An EWU-licensed wine, Eagle Red, made its debut this spring.<\/h6>\n

 <\/p>\n

In recent year<\/span>s, licensed collegiate wine has quietly become its own genre, sharing a tailgate table with branded barbecue sauce and the logoed golf towel. A long list of universities \u2014 Big Ten stalwarts, SEC powerhouses, the occasional Ivy \u2014 have pinots and cabernets labeled in school colors.<\/p>\n

Beginning this spring, Eastern took its first step into this crowded cellar. It did so with a big advantage over its peers: Our grads actually make some of the world\u2019s best wine.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Eagle
Eagle Red, with appropriate accessories.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

At this year\u2019s Alumni Awards Gala, the university debuted Eagle Red, the first-ever EWU-licensed wine. Made in partnership with McKinley Springs Winery, where winemaker Reid Klei \u201905 works his vinification magic using some of Horse Heaven Hills\u2019 finest fruit, the wine is a bold custom cuv\u00e9e crafted with Eagle pride.<\/p>\n

A portion of each bottle sold will go to EWU\u2019s Alumni Legacy Scholarship, meaning, for the first time, that a student\u2019s education may be subsidized in part by an Eagle alum having a special bottle at dinner. \u201cI think it represents the Eastern alumni well,\u201d Klei says. \u201cEveryone is bringing their own strengths to the table, but together we\u2019re stronger.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The collaboration is the fruit of a two-year effort led by Kelsey Hatch-Brecek, Eastern\u2019s director of alumni relations, who worked closely with Klei on the blend and its distinctive packaging. Bottles are dressed in matte black, with a sleek Eagle4Life logo alongside the EWU insignia \u2014 more boutique Walla Walla than Eagle Store.<\/p>\n

Eagle Red\u2019s first run is limited to 200 cases. The wine will also appear in the fall shipment for the Eagle Flights Wine Club, and will be available for a time in the McKinley Springs tasting room in Prosser, Washington.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m super excited to roll out this bold new wine, and to raise our profile among the state\u2019s community of wine connoisseurs.\u201d Hatch-Brecek says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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