Loyola Marymount University has launched the LMU Wine Collective, a program that works with select wineries to create special, limited-edition blends that celebrate LMU and provide funds for student scholarships through sales proceeds. The LMU Wine Collective is the successor of a program that began as a component of LMU’s 2011 centennial celebration but was paused during the pandemic.
The revamped LMU Wine Collective kicks off with a partnership featuring LMU vintners Gary Burk, P ’20, and Teresa Burk ’83, P ’20, owners of Costa de Oro Winery in Santa Maria, California. The Burks, in close consultation with LMU President Timothy L. Snyder, his house maitre’d Victor Romero, and Bryant Keith Alexander, dean of LMU College of Communication and Fine Arts, have created the LMU 2022 GSM (50% grenache, 30% syrah, 20% mourvedre). This exclusive blend also bears a special label featuring artwork by Curbside Collective, an artist group composed of LMU alumni and faculty.
The LMU 2022 GSM was officially unveiled at the 2025 LMU Arthur P. Carroll Jr. Wine Classic on Feb. 2, 2025, with a limited run of 1,800 bottles. It is available for online purchase now.
“There is a well-known scriptural story of how Jesus performed the miracle of turning water into wine when there was an absence of it during a wedding,” said Alexander. “The experience of helping to curate this new LMU wine was not quite a miracle, but it did highlight the expert insight of our Costa de Oro winery partners to make possible that which did not previously exist. They helped to guide us and further educate our palates in the process of discerning the balance in this delightful new GSM blend. And like the scriptural tale, our process ‘saved the best wine for last.’”
Costa de Oro Winery prides itself on using the artistry of old-world winemaking styles and new-world grape-growing practices. The Burks personally oversee the winery’s festive Santa Maria tasting room, where visitors can enjoy local, live music on the weekends. The New York Times has called it “the most unique [tasting room] on the Central Coast.”
“LMU is very close to our family’s hearts. We couldn’t be more delighted to return to the bluff and assist in the effort to raise funds for student scholarships,” said Gary Burk. “Teresa and I have always believed in the power of wine to bring people together, and bringing them together for a great cause is even better.”
The artwork on the label will look familiar to many Lions as it is a detail of the iconic mural located on the ground floor of the William H. Hannon Library. Created in 2022 by the Curbside Collective (Class of 2022 students Jacob Johanson, Jack Alving, and Bobby Sutton, mentored by Clinical Assistant Professor Macha Suzuki of the Studio Arts Department), the mural celebrates the dynamic interplay that arises when individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences come together to form a shared community of learning, collaboration, and creativity. It is one of three that were created for the LMU campus by the collective; the other two can be seen in the Hilton Center for Business and Iggy’s Café.
“Just as the mural gently blends colors and shades that represent a spectrum of possibilities in human social encounter, the wine is a conjoining of flavors to celebrate a unique LMU blend,” said Alexander.
“Every year we have such a blast at the LMU Arthur P. Carroll Jr. Wine Classic, where alumni and friends come from all over to enjoy great wines while raising funds for scholarships,” said Lisa Jackson, director of special events. “Now, the newly launched LMU Wine Collective will allow us to continue the fun, and the fundraising, all year long. It’s all about giving back, and I am so grateful for the many collaborators who make this possible.”
