While this year’s WPSU Wine Festival will primarily offer wines from established wineries, guests also will be able to sample the creation of a couple of local “amateur” winemakers. Lash Segens, which was blended by Ed and Jo Lash, of Boalsburg, will be among the offerings of Starr Hill Winery and Vineyard, in Curwensville.

At last year’s wine festival, the Lashes, who participated in the live auction, won the opportunity to blend and label their own wine at Starr Hill Winery. Each bottle costs around $13, with $1 from each bottle going to benefit WPSU.

Both Ed and Jo Lash are from Mifflin County and have Pennsylvania Dutch roots, Jo Lash said, and “segens” is the Dutch word for “blessings.” At the time they created the wine, she said, they were building a new home. They took a picture of their front door and placed it on the wine’s label.

“We wanted this wine to go with our new house,” she said.

The couple visited Starr Hill Winery in January, she said, where co-owner Kenn Starr explained the types of grapes to them and helped them mix a few together to create a semi-sweet red wine. The winery produced about 50 cases of the wine.

“It’s been a hit with everybody that’s tasted it,” Lash said.

Lash, who serves on WPSU’s Board of Directors, said she had no prior experience with winemaking but has learned a lot about wine by volunteering with the wine festival for the past three years.

“I think it’s just an interesting beverage,” she said.

Starr, who has been offering the winemaking experience at the live auction for the past three years, said it was the highest-bid item in the first year.

Lash Segens is currently sold at the Starr Hill Winery, at an outlet store at the Clearfield Mall, at a store in Franklin Center in St. Mary’s, and at County Market in Philipsburg.

The 2011 WPSU Wine Festival runs from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd., State College. Visit www.wpsu.org/winefestival for more information.