Good wine, good food and great entertainment will be offered this Saturday at Cal Poly’s fourth annual Wine Festival at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch.
The “Afternoon Amidst the Oaks” takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. and will feature 75 wineries from all over California plus 10 local restaurants while the band Joose performs.
“It’s a great place for wine enthusiasts to taste wine from all over California and for students to network with other companies,” Molly Strobel, an agricultural business senior and the marketing and public relations coordinator for the event and this is her second year involved.
“Last year we had about 500 paid guests and this year we’re expecting a little over 600,” she said.
Transportation is now being provided for those who wish to have a designated driver. There will be three pick-up destinations in town at the Comfort Inn and Suites, La Cuesta Inn and the Embassy Suites Hotel at 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. The shuttles will return from the Wine Festival at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 each way.
Strobel said that every winery involved has some type of connection with Cal Poly as each establishment has at least one Cal Poly alumni working for their company.
Also what makes the event unique is the lack of other wine festivals with such a broad range of wineries. With 75 wineries set to attend, it gives wine connoisseurs an opportunity to compare and contrast different vines from different regions.
Along with the band Joose performing, there will also be a silent auction and an art show.
“All proceeds go to the wine and viticulture program, which is only a year old, so it is a way of giving back,” Brittany Malone, a senior wine and viticulture major and the event coordinator, said.
Jason Robideaux, a wine and viticulture senior, is planning on attending the Wine Festival this Saturday because he said he is hoping to meet some potential employers plus taste a variety of wines.
“It will be a good way to taste wines from the area plus I could get some ideas of places I’m interested in to work,” Robideaux said.
Tickets are $30 for students and $50 for the general public. They can be purchased at the Cal Poly Box Office, through vallitix.com and are also available at the Wine Festival. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.
For more information go to www.calpolywinefestival.com.