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Alumni gather to make wine in Cal State San Marcos

By SHAHRAZAD ENCINIAS
For the North County Times

SAN MARCOS — "It's slippery, slimy and weird," Cal State San Marcos Alumni Association member Denise Wells said about the grapes crushing between her toes Saturday afternoon.

The school kicked off Alumni Month with its first Crush Party, including a grape stomp. A secret ingredient to making wine was exposed during the celebration, when Brian Vitek, head of Carlsbad Coastal Winery and a 1996 graduate of Cal State San Marcos, poured a healthy portion of Bombay Sapphire into a bucket.

Vitek explained that it's a tradition for women to soak their feet in vodka before squishing grapes. But instead of vodka, he used top-shelf gin because he wanted to spring for something "not so cheap" for his alumni celebration, he said.

"We're happy to come to campus," Vitek said.

Karen Haynes, president of Cal State San Marcos, was the first to experience the new campus custom.

"It was fun," Haynes said.

The family affair brought more than 200 people from the Cal State San Marcos community to listen to music, eat, play bocce ball and enjoy the popular wine tasting.

"It looks like everyone is having a good time under this good weather," said Heather Manley, Cal State San Marcos alumna and director of the association.

The wine tasting was available for those "of age," with a variety to sample from Saddleback Winery and Crush Party sponsor Carlsbad Coastal Winery. Refills were provided.

"It's nice to know about local wine," said Amber Bearce, a 2006 graduate of the university. "It was pretty neat today."

Bearce wasn't the only one to enjoy the wine and entertainment.

"This is the best wine I've ever had," said Lucy Minnesota, a Cal State San Marcos community member.

The Crush Party was the first for the association but the sixth for the Carlsbad Coastal Winery.

"It's a great wine to spread the word about, at an event like this," said Justin Clark, a Carlsbad Coastal Winery employee.

Cal State policy usually doesn't allow alcoholic beverages on the campus, but with months of planning and the president's permission, it was done. It was for the good of the association, Hayes said.

"It's nice to do events that bring alumni back to campus," Haynes said. "They are our best ambassadors."

The association has been around since the early 1990s. Members work to lure as many fellow alumni as possible back to the campus. A few years ago, only about 20 alumni showed up to an association event, but this year there are a lot more, Wells said.

"It just gets bigger and bigger every year," Wells said.

The association is hosting more events on campus in October. They have planned receptions, dinners and socials in the next couple of weeks.

"I look forward to hearing reports about future events," Haynes said.

The next big alumni events on campus will be the tailgate party for the men's soccer team on Oct.13 and the Graduate and Professional School Fair and Career Expo on Oct. 22.