The California State University, Bakersfield Alumni Association and the Bakersfield Wine Society have joined forces this year for the sixth annual CSUB Party in the Park wine tasting at CSUB on Friday, May 10, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Previously, the Alumni Association and the Wine Society had scheduled their events on the same weekend in May each year. But for this year the two groups have joined together to have one large wine festival. The purpose of the festival is to raise funds for the Alumni Scholarship Fund at CSUB. The fund provides academic scholarships for deserving students who might otherwise have difficulty affording a university education.
CSUB Alumni Director Jill Ford said she's thrilled at the prospect of combining Party in the Park with the Bakersfield Wine Festival. "We know that the Bakersfield Wine Festival has had a large and loyal following, and that the Wine Society directors have done a great job bringing some of the state's best wines to Bakersfield," she said. "So to be able to join with them to have an even bigger and better festival is a win-win for the university and the community. We're delighted, and are looking forward to a great event."
Society President Ann Cierley said she, too was delighted to combine the two events. "The Society was formed 30 years ago, and this year marks the 24th year we'll participate in a wine festival," she said. "The university's 6-year-old Party in the Park is a growing event dedicated to providing scholarships, and it became apparent that together we could provide one outstanding event that would not only help deserving people with their college education, but also help people learn about the joys of wine. We're looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship."
Several wineries have already provided wine for the combined event, which will be known as CSUB Party in the Park with the CSUB Alumni Association and Bakersfield Wine Society.
Wineries represented will include Silver Oak Cellars, Swanson Vineyards and Beringer from Napa Valley; Eberle Winery and Norman Vineyards from Paso Robles. Also, CSUB's sister campus CSU Fresno will be pouring wines from it's Fresno State Winery, the only bonded winery at an American college or university.
"We anticipate having about 30 wineries at the tasting," said Mike Stepanovich, CSUB public relations director and immediate past president of the Wine Society. "It's going to be a great tasting."
A variety of hors d'oeuvres will also be served at the event, which precedes the annual Bakersfield Jazz Festival in the CSUB Amphitheater. In addition those attending will receive a commemorative wine glass.
Party in the Park will be held in Alumni Park on the CSUB campus, which is just east of the Walter Stiern Library and north of the cafeteria.
Cost for the tasting is $30 per person, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Alumni Scholarship Endowment.
For reservations or more information, please call Ford at (661) 664-3211, or e-mail her a jford@csub.edu.
Runner@csubak.edu