The Vines to Wines Club is hosting its sixth annual Cal Poly Wine Festival this weekend, in what has become one of the premier wine events in the area.
The event, which began in 2003 as a senior project, will take place at the Santa Margarita Ranch from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. The event boasts nearly 100 different wineries from across California, and 20 local restaurants will cater to the more than 1,000 visitors the festival draws each year.
A limited number of gold passes are still available for $20 plus general admission, which is $50 or $30 for students, faculty or staff with a Cal Poly ID. The gold passes grant visitors entrance to the festival at noon for first crack at the amenities as well as a limited-edition tasting glass.
“It’s like being in Disneyland with no lines,” said Ryan Crosbie, Vines to Wines president and business senior. “And if you break it down per hour, it’s a good value financially.”
The festivities kick off at 10:30 a.m. Friday with a golf tournament at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande. Reservations can still be made for $150, which includes lunch and dinner as well as various gifts.
Other events at the festival include a silent auction and music by Central Coast band The Shival Experience. The golf tournament and festival are run by student volunteers.
In an effort to promote safe driving practices, buses are provided to and from San Luis Obispo for the first 180 people who made reservations.
Proceeds benefit the Vines to Wines Club as well as the Cal Poly horticulture and crop science department.
“The event is a good way for students to make industry connections. We throw a good group of people together and have a good time. It’s a little more social than other events,” Crosbie said.
Wineries from across the world as well as from California’s best regions participate in the festival. This year’s entries span from France to Napa. Can’t-miss wineries include Cordoniu Cava & Estates from Spain, Lodi’s Lange Twins, Dunn of Napa and Foxen from Santa Maria.
The festival brings in students, faculty, alumnus, connoisseurs and industry professionals alike.
“There was a good mix of student, teachers, and adults from the community,” said Scott Robb, a Cal Poly business graduate who attended last year and is driving from Sacramento for the event this year. “Good food, good wine, great time.”