Cal Poly Girls Return for Tasting Reunion

It would not be the same without them – the girls from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo are once again planning their annual reunion at the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting on Saturday, February 28 at Fort Mason's Festival Pavilion. Known as the unofficial "poster girls" of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, this group of close friends has been gathering at the largest competition of American wines during their last year’s in college as a “road trip”. The girls have been returning to the annual tasting every year for a reunion and time to enjoy by the Bay.

One of these girls is Erica Thompson, who earned her BS in Civil Engineering and hails from Fresno. "I look forward to the wine show every year," she says. "It's become a great tradition I share with my best friends from Cal Poly.” Erica is now a civil engineer in Clovis, California. Kristin Paluck, a native of Pleasanton who earned her BS in Kinesiology agrees. "I am so excited for the 2009 Public Tasting – great wine, fun people, and most importantly, a chance to see my Cal Poly girls again. We always enjoy getting together and catching up while tasting award-winning wines!"

The close-knit group of friends also includes Molly Wharton of Oakland, who holds a BS in Nutrition and is currently taking graduate courses in nursing in Seattle, Washington. Brooke Fraser, who earned her BS in Agriculture Science and is a Produce Relief Buyer and Inspector for Kroger in Fresno says, "I love the waterfront wine and food tasting at Fort Mason with my best friends," Fraser says. "We always run into many of our other college friends there." All of these girls are part of Cal Poly's 2006 graduating class with the exception of Erin Thompson, who earned her BS in Agricultural Business in 2007 and is currently a marketing specialist for a Grower/Shipper in Fresno, California. She is equally ecstatic to see everyone again at this year's Public Tasting. "What started as a weekend college road trip has now become an annual reunion. This will be our fourth year, and each year is better than the last! I am looking forward to the upcoming 2009 event – enjoying good wine with great friends."