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MAWBY + College for Creative Studies: Where Art Inspires the Wine
Originally published September 2025 | Updated September 2026
In 2025, we partnered with the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit on a project that brought student artwork into an unexpected part of our winemaking process: the wine itself.
Participating CCS students were invited to create original label designs inspired by MAWBY, gaining real-world experience developing creative work for an established brand. One design was ultimately selected for the bottle, while each participating student received a scholarship from MAWBY to support their continued education and creative work.
The selected artwork also became part of the winemaking process. Our team looked to the colors, imagery and ideas behind the design for inspiration when developing a custom dosage to finish the wine.
Now, the collaboration is back for a second release.
CCS Cuvée 2: A Moment in Noon
The second release of our collaboration with CCS features artwork by Darrow Thoms and a new sparkling wine inspired by his piece, A Moment in Noon.
Finished with a honey and lavender dosage, CCS Cuvée 2 is a brut sparkling wine with floral aromas and warm spice. Gentle tannins add breadth to flavors of lemon and orange, with honey, lavender and spice lingering on the finish.
Meet the artist: Darrow Thoms
Darrow describes A Moment in Noon as a tribute to a particular point in a Northern spring when the landscape seems to change all at once:
“My design for MAWBY Sparkling is titled ‘A Moment in Noon,’ a small tribute to that specific, vibrant instant in spring when the world shifts abruptly from dormant to alive. I wanted to capture the contrast between the quiet of winter and the sudden, bubbly energy of a new season. Much like the experience of opening a bottle of sparkling wine, the piece represents an effervescent release of color, where once withered branches are overtaken by an amalgamation of blooming life.”
— Darrow Thoms
From the label to the wine
Darrow’s artwork gave our winemaking team the inspiration for the finishing touch on CCS Cuvée 2.
Drawing from the blooming flowers and spring landscape of A Moment in Noon, the team developed a lavender and honey dosage for the wine. The floral character, citrus and warm spice in the finished cuvée carry that inspiration from the label into the glass.
CCS Cuvée 2 is now available at the MAWBY tasting room and online.
Where the collaboration began
The first CCS Cuvée was released in 2025, featuring a label designed by CCS student Olivia Plochocki.
Inspired in part by her Polish heritage, Olivia combined colorful flowers and foliage with the Detroit skyline, connecting MAWBY’s Northern Michigan home with a city that has long been an important part of our story.
Olivia Plochocki: Colorful heritage, vibrant community
"MAWBY’s brand is known for their high quality products, their overall approachability, and the ability to celebrate any moment - large or small. The company invented the term “MAWBYness” and its essence is energetic, youthful, and creates a feeling of connection. The brand shows a love for nature, which they prove by their environmentally friendly and sustainable farming - never sacrificing the quality of their products for profit. Being tasked to create a wine label with all of this in mind, I wanted to focus on the environment and the sense of community the brand provides.
With my initial sketches, I aimed to capture an organic and youthful design. My Polish heritage heavily influenced this design - folk art filled with brightly colored flowers and foliage. Since the company is greatly rooted in Detroit and has done a lot for the community, I wanted to add the classic skyline to balance the soft, natural look. One of my favorite things to do in the city is watch the sunrise or sunset - the way the colors dance and reflect off the buildings is breathtaking. These vibrant colors and the gradient on the skyline best capture that view.
This design of flowers and foliage blossoming from the skyline emphasizes the celebration of life and truly brings the essence of “MAWBYness” alive."
From Olivia's artwork to the first CCS Cuvée
Olivia’s flowers and botanical imagery gave our winemaking team the direction for the first wine. Production Winemaker Bill Wieske and the team developed a bright, floral style using elderflower, lemon verbena and yarrow.
"We received many outstanding artistic submissions from the students at CCS. All of them spoke to us in positive ways but one stood out and hit a few different points that really caught our attention. Detroit is a great city. Many of us have some roots in the area and frequently return to enjoy what the city has to offer. Restaurants in the city have served MAWBY wine for years and we are proud that our wine can be a part of the Detroit experience. Olivia's representation of the skyline depicts it as the proud and vibrant city that it is with recognizable landmark buildings and colors that remind you of what a sunset might look like from the riverfront. It literally makes you want to visit the city and enjoy a meal with a glass of wine.
The flowers are where the inspiration for the wine style came from. Two things you may not associate with each other are big cities and fields of flowers but the color scheme used by Olivia brought the two together here very well. We wanted to do the same thing with a wine to adequately represent the beauty of this label art. We thought of something vibrant and floral right away. You may not always associate classic bubbly wine with botanical additions but that is where the inspiration led us. The herbal and floral flavors were created from late additions of elderflower, lemon verbena, and yarrow [leading] to one of our more elegant wines. We hope that the result does justice to the beautiful label that adorns the bottle it resides in. Cheers."
Bill Wieske, Production Winemaker at MAWBY Sparkling Wines
The 2025 CCS label designs
Olivia’s selected label was one part of a much larger collection of student work. Each participating artist brought their own perspective to the project, finding connections between MAWBY, Detroit, Northern Michigan and their individual creative styles.
Explore the original 2025 designs and artist statements below.
Abbey Sutter: Architectural sparkle with feminine flare
"With this design, I aimed to seamlessly blend elements of urban architecture with nature, reflecting MAWBY’s expansion into Detroit while incorporating influences from the Leelanau Peninsula."
"The grape leaf-inspired motifs on the sides symbolize the brand’s roots in winemaking, while the cityscape showcases Detroit’s iconic skyline. Additionally, the design draws from the rich Art Deco heritage found in Detroit’s architecture, honoring the city’s history and aesthetic legacy. The shimmering gold accents represent both the vibrant, sparkling nature of the beverage and the luxurious experience of enjoying sparkling wine. At the center, the eye motif serves as an elegant and feminine focal point, drawing in consumers and inviting them to take a closer look at the bottle."
"My goal was to create a design that feels chic and sophisticated yet warm, inviting, and celebratory—capturing the essence of MAWBY’s brand and its connection to both tradition and modern wine enthusiasts."
Adrian Keeler: Sparkling moments in shared connection
"MAWBY’s brand specializes in “making moments sparkle.” To reflect this motto, this design focuses on celebrating community, diversity, and savoring the moment. I wanted to emphasize the brand’s essence of connection between: diverse individuals; nature and urban life; and community and winemaking."
"These connections are shown via hands intertwining at the center of the image, representing inclusivity and a transition between a far-off cityscape and a flourishing grape vineyard. The city skyline is inspired by Detroit’s urbanscape, while the green grapes portray the source and type of wine in the bottle. MAWBY’s branding features a lovely variety of saturated colors, so I aimed to present this array in a balanced, symmetrical design."
"A sun is used to frame the majority of the image, adding warmth and energy to a tranquil scene. The bright yellow against a darkened sky adds contrast, making the design more eye-catching from afar. MAWBY’s logo is featured center, allowing illustrative elements to act as support for the branding’s narrative. As a final touch, the stars are a nod to MAWBY’s specialty in sparkling wine. When it comes to a drink as celebratory as sparkling wine, I hope for this design to feel like a reflective moment; a reminder to enjoy life’s little luxuries in the quiet moments, and create meaningful memories in good company."
Beatrix Lindholm: Bubbly, bright, and bold
"For MAWBY, I wanted to provide a design that embodies the bright energy of the brand while celebrating the joy of sparkling wine."
"Using vibrant colors and bubbly, abstract shapes, I aimed to reflect the effervescence of the wine itself. Inspired by the spirit of Detroit, I incorporated elements that celebrate the city while keeping the composition playful and dynamic. This illustration is meant to feel fresh, inviting, and reflective of MAWBY’s lively identity."
QianHua Bowyer: Faces of the city and vine
Debora Vasha: Symbolic, soulful, and community-focused
"Tasked with bringing “MAWBYness” to life, this piece marries the different elements the brand stands for: MAWBY's care for nature, which they showcase with their sustainable business practices; their mission to bring people together as a community in joyful moments of celebration; their efforts to give back to Michigan communities; and their support for Detroit and involvement in the community."
Senyjah Wren: Autumnal joy, bottled and shared
"This label reflects the harmony between nature, community, and the connections that bring us together. Inspired by MAWBY’s home in the Leelanau Peninsula and its bond with Detroit, the design weaves elements of both worlds—where city and nature intertwine."
"A deer rests within the tree’s branches, birds glide above the skyline, and butterflies flutter in the foliage, all surrounding two young figures strolling at sunset. Their warm presence evokes shared moments, a sense of belonging, and celebrates the unity between people, place, and the joys that bring us together."
"The golden hues of the illustration suggest a wine perfect for autumn gatherings, radiating warmth and nostalgia. I imagine this label adorning a sparkling wine with crisp notes of apple and warming spices—flavors that complement the season and invite a sense of comfort." "Just as the artwork tells a story of connection, the wine itself represents bringing people together in celebration of the changing season."
Henry Paruch: Colorful harmony of land and life
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