Wine flows through Central Coast and Cal Poly(1)
Wine is big on the Central Coast. Really big. So big that even Cal Poly has its own wine program-and wine. The wine industry is enormous along the Central Coast and Cal Poly is in the heart of it, surrounded by luscious vineyards in all directions.
Whether you dabble in it or drink a lot of it, wine's presence in San Luis Obispo is undeniable. World-renowned wineries pop up everywhere you look, including one on campus. Various wine tasting rooms dot the landscape of downtown. Wine is even sold at the downtown Cal Poly merchandise store, not too shabby for a dry campus.
It's not surprising that all this wine-love has trickled down to the local college students. Business senior Ryan McKinley has grown quite fond of wine since coming to Cal Poly.
"I'm a cabernet sauvignon man," McKinley said. "I like the full body, the rich flavor. It's not sweet like a lot of whites."
Like most college students, McKinley is on a relatively tight budget, and doesn't want to spend precious cash on expensive wines, He prefers to purchase cheaper wines at Trader Joe's and Cost Plus World Market. These stores sell bottles from $4 to $12 and offer excellent deals on Central Coast wines.
McKinley notes that wine is popular amongst students, but isn't your typical party drink like beer, and probably never will be.
"People drink wine when they want to have a nice, classy time," McKinley said. "It's good for dates and celebrations. It's not really an everyday type of thing cause nobody has that type of budget."
San Luis Obispo wine country is capable of influencing even the most seasoned wine drinkers. Physics senior Florian Mettetal grew up in France and has been drinking wine with meals since he was young, yet he still considers San Luis Obispo a wine-drinker's paradise.
"There are a lot of amazing wineries around here," Mettetal said. "I've been on a couple wine tours and those have always been great. When I go to a winery, I'm willing to spend $50 dollars on a bottle."
One way students experience the Central Coast wine culture is through wine-tasting. Going on weekend wine-touring excursions is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon while becoming familiar with the local wine culture. Grace Keggl, the tasting room manager at Per Bacco Cellars, a San Luis Obispo winery and vineyard, said she has noticed a recent increase in wine-tasting popularity amongst students, who tend to prefer white wines.
