May 2026: Letter from the Director
Winning Beer & Sold Out Events
The academic year is coming to a quick end with students preparing for final exams and commencement ceremonies on the horizon. The Robert Mondavi Institute closes out the term with two amazing sold-out events.
The charismatic Cha McCoy shared her new book, Wine Pairing for the People, with a full house in the Sensory Theater. She shared her expertise and enthusiasm as she led us through a more inclusive way of thinking about and enjoying wine, expanding our minds and palates to a whole world of cuisine and lesser-known wine regions. You can now watch the event recording and read the event recap. I encourage you to check out Cha McCoy’s book for yourself.
The 2nd Annual Alumni Wine Showcase also sold out, with 200 guests gathering at the RMI Sensory Building Courtyard to enjoy exceptional wines from more than 20 UC Davis alumni wineries. There were undertones of a reunion as some winemakers experienced the RMI complex for the first time since graduating. There were so many wonderful conversations as attendees discovered new favorites and wine industry alumni connected with peers and colleagues.
Thank you to our partners, the Department of Viticulture and Enology, Cal Aggie Alumni Association, and Aggies Uncorked for helping to create a memorable evening for everyone. If you’d like to explore the participating wineries, visit the event webpage.
I'd also like to thank our dedicated crew of student workers. They are the first to show up and the last to leave each event as they help organize, set up, monitor, tear down and clean up. Over the past few weeks, they have worked very hard on RMI events and assisted other groups with programs in the Sensory Building.
Speaking of students, a four-student team in the Department of Food Science and Technology’s practical malting and brewing course won this year’s Iron Brew competition with their beer “Bananaweizen,” a Hefeweizen-style beer with notes of banana and warm spice. The winning team scaled up and brewed their beer with Dunloe Brewery in Davis. Our student writer Kaylianne Jordan was on the winning team and wrote a wonderful article about the competition, their beer and where to get a taste.
The inaugural Student Symposium on Food Justice brought together students, staff, faculty and student leaders from organizations across campus to discuss food waste and recovery, food justice through research and activism, food security, cultural relevance and much more. They designed a plant-based menu and attendees cooked lunch together. Read more and find their recipes on the symposium blog.
As summer approaches, our efforts turn to planning for the 2026-27 year. The RMI newsletter will be quieter while we build more programs to highlight UC Davis excellence. If you have missed any of our programs, subscribe to our YouTube channel and watch past events.
I hope you are enjoying some warmer weather and we will see you soon!
The charismatic Cha McCoy shared her new book, Wine Pairing for the People, with a full house in the Sensory Theater. She shared her expertise and enthusiasm as she led us through a more inclusive way of thinking about and enjoying wine, expanding our minds and palates to a whole world of cuisine and lesser-known wine regions. You can now watch the event recording and read the event recap. I encourage you to check out Cha McCoy’s book for yourself.
The 2nd Annual Alumni Wine Showcase also sold out, with 200 guests gathering at the RMI Sensory Building Courtyard to enjoy exceptional wines from more than 20 UC Davis alumni wineries. There were undertones of a reunion as some winemakers experienced the RMI complex for the first time since graduating. There were so many wonderful conversations as attendees discovered new favorites and wine industry alumni connected with peers and colleagues.
Thank you to our partners, the Department of Viticulture and Enology, Cal Aggie Alumni Association, and Aggies Uncorked for helping to create a memorable evening for everyone. If you’d like to explore the participating wineries, visit the event webpage.
I'd also like to thank our dedicated crew of student workers. They are the first to show up and the last to leave each event as they help organize, set up, monitor, tear down and clean up. Over the past few weeks, they have worked very hard on RMI events and assisted other groups with programs in the Sensory Building.
Speaking of students, a four-student team in the Department of Food Science and Technology’s practical malting and brewing course won this year’s Iron Brew competition with their beer “Bananaweizen,” a Hefeweizen-style beer with notes of banana and warm spice. The winning team scaled up and brewed their beer with Dunloe Brewery in Davis. Our student writer Kaylianne Jordan was on the winning team and wrote a wonderful article about the competition, their beer and where to get a taste.
The inaugural Student Symposium on Food Justice brought together students, staff, faculty and student leaders from organizations across campus to discuss food waste and recovery, food justice through research and activism, food security, cultural relevance and much more. They designed a plant-based menu and attendees cooked lunch together. Read more and find their recipes on the symposium blog.
As summer approaches, our efforts turn to planning for the 2026-27 year. The RMI newsletter will be quieter while we build more programs to highlight UC Davis excellence. If you have missed any of our programs, subscribe to our YouTube channel and watch past events.
I hope you are enjoying some warmer weather and we will see you soon!
Sincerely,
Ned Spang
Director, Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science
Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology
Ned Spang
Director, Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science
Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology