Josh AyersCombine the now-mainstream notion of sustainability with a magical hilltop evening, and apparently the concordance works.
At least this was the case Thursday morning at Cal Poly’s Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium’s (SARC) third annual fundraiser auction, “Taste of the Future.”
The event raised approximately $47,000 to support SARC and the Cal Poly Organic Farm.
Guests paid $125 per ticket to attend the function, which was held at the historic Mission Asistencia in Santa Margarita, the single oldest stone and mortar construction in California.
Among the nearly 200 guests was Cal Poly President Warren J. Baker, Vice President for Advancement Sandra Ogren, Associated Students Inc. President Brandon Souza and more than a dozen local farmers.
President of Agrifuels Jason Hoar, who helped start the Cal Poly Biodiesel Club, was also there. Agrifuels looks for ways to utilize solar fuel for sustainability.
The speaker and guest of honor was Paul Dolan, a prominent winemaker, author and viticulturist.
“My awakening happened several years ago, as a young winemaker,” Dolan said.
He talked about when he first discovered that organically grown berries made better Sauvignon Blanc.
“I was killing the earth by using pesticides; weaker vines could never survive,” Dolan said.
Dolan described how he realized that organic viticulture was the only way to simultaneously support communities, protect the environment and create the best wine.
He began converting to organic in the mid ’80s, when the notion was not trendy or well-researched, and now farms more than 2,000 acres of organically grown grapes.
Dolan’s book, “True to our Roots: Fermenting a Business Revolution,” was available to purchase as guests left the fundraiser. In the book, he explains the changes he has implemented in the winemaking industry to promote sustainability. His quest to constantly improve his vineyards has been a learning process.
“Every time we had a success in one area, there was another door to go through,” he explained, “and there are still more doors to go through.”
“The future is about sustainability, and this is a great first step,” Souza said. “When it comes to the vitality of the nation, this is the beginning of a sustainability revolution.”