In November, the Cal Aggie Alumni Association (CAAA) embarked on a wine trip that took enthusiasts on an extraordinary journey through France’s most iconic wine regions. Blending education, culture, and camaraderie, the trip left an indelible mark on all who participated. Among the participants was Ned Spang, director of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, who shared his reflections on this immersive experience.

On October 22, 2024, Ed Matovcik, Vice President of Public Affairs at Constellation Brands (owner of well-known wineries like Robert Mondavi Winery and Opus One), spoke at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science about the ongoing debate about alcohol and its health effects. With decades of experience advocating for the wine industry in both Washington, D.C. and Napa, Matovcik is deeply involved in various organizations that support the wine industry and those who work in wine. 

Food and wine are more than just great flavors – they reflect the stories of communities and traditions. Darrell Corti, a Sacramento food and wine expert, has spent a lifetime sharing those stories, enriching California’s culinary landscape with his introduction of new tastes, ingredients and varietals.

To honor Corti’s contributions, Bob and Roger Trinchero, brothers from one of the largest family-owned wineries in the country and producers of Sutter Home wines, have established the $1.5 million "Darrell Corti Endowed Professorship in Food, Wine and Culture" at UC Davis.

Summertime is officially here! We're so proud of all the graduates honored at commencement ceremonies this month. The campus is quiet now, and we'll take time to plan our events for the next academic year, develop our strategic plan, and prepare for a busy fall.

From the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden and UC Davis News

Years ago, Bob Leidigh and Barbara Leidigh (nee Williams) were both entering freshmen at UC Davis. They came from different locales and different backgrounds. They met Homecoming Weekend at the pre-game dance at Freeborn Hall (then known as "The Pajamarino”). Soon thereafter, they were actively dating and then going steady. Today, nearly sixty years later, they are still a couple. 

From the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Online classes, masking requirements and isolation guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for UC Davis students to connect and network.

Students in the Department of Viticulture and Enology sought to change that dynamic and they formed Women in Wine, a group for women and those who exist in women’s spaces to connect with others in production and winemaking. 

From the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

An interdisciplinary team of scientists and researchers from University of California, Davis, are studying agave plants in the Golden State as farmers are turning to the crop as a potential drought-tolerant option of the future.

From the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Ben Montpetit, a yeast geneticist and biochemist, is the new chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology at University of California, Davis.

Montpetit joined UC Davis in 2016 and became department vice chair in 2021.

In his new role, he plans to enhance student offerings, continue to advance diversity efforts and foster investment in students, faculty, staff and department operations.

From UC Davis News and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Wild North American grapes are now less of a mystery after an international team of researchers led by the University of California, Davis, decoded and catalogued the genetic diversity of nine species of this valuable wine crop.