August 2026: Letter from the Director

A Farewell & A Look Back

by Ned Spang
August 19, 2026

Last month, we lost a dear friend of the Robert Mondavi Institute, UC Davis, and the wine industry. Walter “Walt” Klenz passed away on July 20, 2026, at the age of 81. Walt invested more than 50 years in the global wine industry, earning a well-deserved reputation as a humble, trustworthy, and kind leader.

He had a vision that winemakers should not only know how to make great wine but also understand wine business operations, a movement now well accepted at UC Davis and in the industry at large, and showcased through the Walt Klenz lecture series.

The Walt Klenz Lectureship Series on Wine Business was established in 2005 through a pledge originally made by Beringer Blass Wine Estates to honor its CEO, Walt Klenz, upon his retirement. The endowment supports a biannual lecture hosted by the Robert Mondavi Institute and sponsored by Treasury Wine Estates. The series brings together influential winemakers and wine industry professionals to share their unique perspectives, insights, and experiences in the wine business. Walt shared his vision in a video about the lecture series.

It has been an honor working with Walt over the years. He always wanted to bring the best wine professionals to the lecture series, and the willingness of the distinguished speakers to share their knowledge with students is a testament to Walt’s standing in the wine industry. I encourage you to read a full article about Walt’s impact. Walt will be greatly missed. We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Looking back to last year, I’d like to share our 2025 Year in Review. It was a year of collaboration across our programs, events, and efforts. As you read our Year in Review, I hope you take note of the array of on-campus and external partners representing a wide range of academic disciplines, specialties, and industries. We also supported student organizations, sensory studies and campus-wide events, such as Picnic Day. On a day-to-day basis, RMI staff support our partners by coordinating the use of the Sensory Theater and conference room, organizing tours for dignitaries and visiting scholars, assisting with partner event logistics and promotion through our communication channels.

This year, in addition to the printed report, we have made a digital format for easier access and sharing. The new format allows us to link to dozens of articles, event recaps, program videos, and more. I hope you take some time to explore the robust report and share it with friends and colleagues.

Lastly, our 13th Annual TASTE Food and Wine Tasting Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, October 10 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Every year, tickets sell out fast, so mark your calendars! Tickets will go on sale on Monday, September 21 at 1:00 pm, and newsletter subscribers will receive an email reminder on that day.

If you know of a wine or food vendor who would like to participate, send them to the TASTE webpage for more details.

I look forward to sharing more upcoming events with you next month!

Sincerely,