Exactly.
So there we were last weekend at the new Earth Day venue, Castoro Cellars. It had been at Pomar Junction the prior three years I believe and Santa Margarita Ranch prior to that. We attended those and they were awesome but I think Castoro really nailed it.
They have this great meadow area back behind the tasting room that’s surrounded by vineyards and oak trees (it doesn’t get much more Paso than that). It’s the same place they held their Beaverstock event last year and they are doing it again this year.
There were many of your usual suspects involved this year. You know…wineries, restaurants, caterers, and birds of prey (see photos below) all coming together in the name of sustainability. The folks behind Earth Day, the Vineyard Team, are also behind the SIP Certification (SIP = Sustainability in Practice) for vineyards and wineries that choose to go through the process.
The Vineyard Team never ceases to amaze me. I’ve seen their work from both sides; the consumer side as well as an independent contractor that worked with them for quite some time on their social media efforts. Inside and out they are a dedicated team of earth lovers who don’t just hug trees, they know how to party too.
With approximately 1,500 people at their Earth Day festivities this year they were able to recycle or compost all trash with the exception of one bag. If they can do that I know that we (you and me) can do far better in our own homes and businesses.
Other than the wine the stand outs for me this year were the Damon Castillo Band (they are awesome), the hawk that Sammy got his picture taken with, and the venue itself. I have said it every other year but Earth Day really feels like a get together with great friends in a cool backyard and this year the venue and the people absolutely made that true yet again.
A very big thank you to Kris, Kyle, and Beth. You three do an amazing amount of work in what seems to be very little time. I know there are tons of others that help you do what you do but you three are the orchestrators and not only do you put on a great party but your dedication to sustainability is admirable.
So that’s it from me, another incredible Earth Day Food & Wine Festival. Hope to see you there next year!
What a great write-up and an awesome cause! We were planning to go and then realized we were booked to shoot a wedding that weekend. Grrrrr! Thanks for laying it all out there & giving us that much more reason to set aside that weekend! See you guys there next year (FOR SURE!). ^_^
Well worth it, Diane. It’s the most fun, casual, easy going event on the coast…in my opinion. 🙂
Great event, even greater venue and wonderfully staffed! What more can you say? So many great things to experience and as a member of the Central Coast Vineyard Team and a vineyard owner, we really do appreciate what they do for us year round…from seminars to product demonstrations to personal support…the Earth Day Festival is the culmination of all that is good about our industry and helping us to make a better planet! Cheers!!!
Well said, Steve. I was lucky to work for them for a while. I learned a ton and sustainability became a bigger passion of mine. Cheers my friend. 🙂