Cal Poly Alumni Wine and Beer Garden Showcases Local Alumni Success

The Cal Poly Alumni Wine and Beer Garden has become a lively tradition during Open House weekend. What began as a small gathering hosted by the College of Engineering has grown into a campus wide celebration welcoming alumni from across the decades back to campus while showcasing local alumni-owned and managed wineries and breweries.

Kelly Owens-Dávalos, director of alumni programs and engagement, helps organize the event each year.

“The Alumni Wine and Beer Garden brings people to Open House to celebrate being back on campus and reconnecting with classmates, faculty and staff, all while highlighting local alumni-owned wine, beer, cider and seltzer businesses on the Central Coast," she said.

This year’s event took place Saturday, April 11, 2026, on O’Neill Green in front of the Orfalea College of Business. More than 400 alumni attended, sampling offerings from 15 alumni-owned or Cal Poly-affiliated businesses. These ranged from startups to established wineries and breweries, most based in San Luis Obispo County, with each business donating its product and staff in support of the event.

One of the vendors featured this year was William Sandberg (Wine and Viticulture, ‘22), who recently launched a line of wine coolers, available in two flavors, Coyote Citrus and Backroad Bramble, under the brand Wilbur Wines with his father, fellow alumnus Blake Sandberg (Construction Management, ‘84). In true Learn by Doing fashion, the pair have dived headfirst into the industry over the past year, building their brand from the ground up.

The father and son duo were excited to have their fellow Mustangs try their product, as they know Cal Poly alumni are eager to support one another.

“This is a really cool event to show off local businesses for people who went to school here in the ‘80s or ‘90s,” Sandberg said. “The experience we had at Cal Poly is very similar, no matter the year or major, and there's a common thread that everyone can connect on.”

Niels Udsen (Agricultural Business, ‘80) represents a long-standing presence in the industry and at this event. He and his wife, Bimmer Udsen, founded Castoro Cellars in 1983 in northern San Luis Obispo County when only a handful of wineries operated in the region. Today, with a tasting room in Templeton and a winemaking facility in San Miguel, the winery grows about 25 grape varieties, including cabernet, merlot and chardonnay.

“We started out really small,” Udsen said. “Now we farm about 1,400 acres of grapes, all certified organic, which makes us perhaps the largest certified organic wine grape grower in California. That's a testament to Learn by Doing.”

The couple have remained connected to Cal Poly over the years, including by serving on the board during the development of the Wine and Viticulture Program. At this year’s event, both poured tastings and connected with fellow alumni.

“I put up a frame that said ‘1980 grad,’” Udsen said. “That was a good conversation starter. Some people knew our winery, and some were wine club members. It was nice to connect and it was especially good to see the younger people coming to taste because that’s where we're lacking in the industry — keeping them engaged. Maybe they'll make us a destination for one of their wine tasting trips because of that.”

As the event continues to evolve, Owens-Dávalos hopes to continue to highlight both established and emerging alumni in the industry.

“I'm hoping we can continue to showcase alumni vendors and use this as an opportunity to really highlight the impact of Cal Poly in a major industry right here in our own backyards,” she said. “We want to bring alumni back to create a full-circle experience and help keep them connected to the university.”

The Alumni Wine and Beer Garden will take place again during next year’s Open House Weekend. Alumni interested in participating as vendors can contact alumnievents@calpoly.edu.