about



	Cal Poly wines, and the vineyards they came from, have had a long-standing tradition of producing quality wine. Some of our first vintages were made by Ken Volk during his tenure at Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards – a good match in our eyes for our mustang wines! In the past two seasons, Cal Poly has started up a new relationship with Orcutt Road Cellars, where a closer location allows our student winemakers to maintain close ties with the wines during the entire process – from vineyard to bottle. Since 1901 Cal Poly has been committed to educational excellence and a "learn by doing" philosophy. We are proud to present this premier wine, representing a collaborative effort by viticulture, enology, and wine business students in the Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture major. The rich character of this wine reflects Cal Poly's commitment to excellence and the exceptional growing conditions of San Luis Obispo, California. For more information about the Wine and Viticulture program, visit wvit.calpoly.edu.

		Kathryn Allegra Kathryn Allegra moved to San Luis Obispo from the Sonoma coast where she was surrounded by vineyards most of her life. While attending Cal Poly she discovered a passion for wine chemistry, pursuing research projects and internships that prepared her for her first winemaking position: Cal Poly’s inaugural vintage. She graduated in 2006 with a concentration in Enology and minor in Agribusiness. Kathryn currently works for Kenneth Volk Vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley and remains involved in the Cal Poly Wine & Viticulture program.
		Luke Holcombe Luke got his start in the wine industry by judging grapevines for the FFA in high school. His success there led him to pursue viticulture as a career. During his time at Cal Poly, he was highly involved with the Viticulture Enterprise project, which he eventually helped run as a student manager. After completing an internship at McManis Family Vineyards during the 2005 crush, he returned to Cal Poly and promptly changed his major to Wine and Viticulture, with a concentration in Enology. For the 2006 harvest he acted in conjunction with Katie Allegra as the student winemaker for Cal Poly's first vintage. After graduating he accepted the position of assistant winemaker at McManis Family Vineyards, where he is currently gearing up for the 2007 harvest.

		Michael Bruzus Michael Bruzus, 21, has worked in wineries since 2001. He got his start at Picchetti Winery, part of the historical Santa Cruz Mountains winemaking region. His first harvest was Fall of 2003, and he hasn't missed a season since. The long hours and dedication necessary for working the vineyards and cellars has given him a strong work ethic that is only surpassed by his knowledge and passion for Enology. Michael eventually left Picchetti Winery in 2006 to study at the new Wine and Viticulture program at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. For his first internship, he assisted in the 2006 Domaine Alfred (Edna Valley, CA) harvest.
		Nicole Chamberlain Nicole discovered her passion for wine at just the right time, on the eve of her 21st birthday. Prior to her life changing revelation Nicole was studying for a degree in Biology with plans of becoming a dentist like her father. She will soon proudly graduate with a B.S. in Wine and Viticulture with a concentration in Enology and a minor in Agribusiness from Cal Poly. She hopes to use her skills in wine, science and business to pursue her interest in sensory analysis and one day create a sensory firm and a winery of her own. What inspired this change of fate from Bio to Bordeaux? If you want to know that, just pour yourself a glass-- the answer will come.

	Cal Poly Winemakers' Mentor - Christian Roguenant Known both as a conventional traditionalist and a rebellious renegade, Christian Roguenant is actually a unique mix of the two. The son of a conservative banker, he grew up in the Burgundy region of France. Schooled at the University of Dijon, he learned to make wine using time-honored traditional methods. He earned not only a degree in Oenology, but a Certificate of Marketing for Wine and Spirits. Dangerously over-educated, he set out with his diploma in hand, and found there was still much to be learned. He quickly became interested in original and innovative techniques that made the process better and/or made a finished wine of higher quality. Christian's insatiable thirst for novel methods took him to countless countries spread over five different continents. To name a few; France, Argentina, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Korea, where he was responsible for making the official sparkling wine of the 1988 Olympic Games. Christian currently is a winemaker for Baileyana and Tangent Wineries. Contact Cal Poly Wine