May 2023: Letter from the Director
Warming Up for Summer
It feels like we are on the cusp of Summer, with warmer temperatures bringing bees and blooms to the Good Life Garden at the heart of the Robert Mondavi Institute.
Walking around the RMI complex, I am compelled to share the state-of-the-art facilities, achievements, and student stories with you. Our virtual tour videos have been one way to do that. Watch the newly released tour of the LEED-platinum-certified winery, vineyard, and Special Collections room. We receive requests from all over the world to tour these spaces, and I am proud that we have a virtual option for those who cannot travel to Davis. Visit the virtual tours webpage to see the other areas.
Last night we hosted Forum: UC Davis Student Farm with Director Colin Dixon and students Wendy Martinez Castaneda, Jesus Trujillo, and Marcy Cathcart. It was a wonderful evening learning about their many initiatives and unique spaces. It was clear that the students are the heart of the farm, and if you missed the event, I hope you watch the recording we will share in the coming week. I encourage you to learn more and support their work by visiting the Student Farm website. You can also watch short highlight videos of the Ecological Garden, Market Garden, and Fresh Focus program. Thank you to Jael Mackendorf, our multimedia specialist, for creating these beautiful videos.
Our partnership with the University of Notre Dame continues with a ThinkND webinar tomorrow morning. Savage Water: Tequila & Mezcal will explore agave spirits with Ron Runnebaum, associate professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology, leading agave research at UC Davis. If you miss the live event, the recording will be available the same day.
Even though I will retire at the end of next month, we are busy planning some exciting events for fall and beyond, including TASTE on October 14. The annual food and wine-tasting fundraiser sells out quickly. As a newsletter subscriber, we will notify you when tickets are on sale. Look for more information after our usual summer hiatus.
Thank you for your continued support of the Robert Mondavi Institute!
Sincerely,
Andrew Waterhouse
Director, Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science
Professor Emeritus, Department of Viticulture and Enology