Mention Paso Robles to some people and they only remember the town as one that Highway 101 skirts. A spot to fill up at the gas station, grab a mediocre hamburger and perhaps spend the night at some version of a Motel 6.

Now in its 26th year the Paso Robles Wine Festival takes place May 17. New sponsorship partners, multiple ticket levels, a demonstration kitchen, wine education classes and a focus on locally grown, sustainably created products as well as a new Reserve event now complement the more than 90 Paso Robles wineries in this culinary showcase.

Andy Beckstoffer presents the Walt Klenz Memorial Lecture on Wine Business Tuesday April 29, 4-5 p.m., in the studio theater at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis.

As the world grows more conscious of the earth’s fragility, I continue to be amazed at the utter disregard for the environment that some wineries have.