Spring has sprung at UC Davis, with the winter quarter ending and students finishing up finals before their spring break. Personally, I'm happy to transition into the new quarter, with many events to look forward to, longer days, and sunny weather.

Before discussing what's coming up, let's review and look back. The Robert Mondavi Institute's year-in-review publication for 2023 is now posted on our website. Please take some time to read about last year's accomplishments.

The student-led Women in Wine group is hosting a symposium on April 6 that promises to be a great day of connecting with women in the wine industry while gaining insights from their experience. Many speakers and panelists are UC Davis alumni and will be pouring their wines at the end-of-day reception. I encourage you to register and attend.

Picnic Day returns on April 20 with campus-wide activities for the whole family! Visit the RMI complex from 10 am to 2 pm for olive oil and honey tastings, grapevine giveaways, winery tours, wine barrel demonstrations, and the science of making ice cream. Visit our website to see the schedule.

The Davis Enology and Viticulture Organization (DEVO) will host the 23rd Annual Winkler Dinner on May 4. DEVO is student-led and hosts this prestigious event, which features excellent wine, exclusive auction items, and delicious food to support professional development for viticulture and enology students. Get your tickets before they sell out.

On May 17, Forum: Breeding the Best Strawberries will delve into the UC Davis Strawberry Breeding Program. We'll explore the problems they are solving, the science behind the process, and taste four varieties! Space is limited, so be sure to register soon.

Finally, I would like to heartily congratulate the UC Davis Olive Center on its recent win at the California State Fair. Their Premium Reserve olive oil won Best of California in the delicate division and Best of Class, Sacramento Valley, in the delicate blend division. Their Olea Learn Apprenticeship students were integral to creating this olive oil, from orchard to bottle. You can taste and purchase their olive oils at Picnic Day.

Thank you for your continued support and I hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,

Ned Spang
Director, Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science
Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology

View the entire March 2024 newsletter.