The end of the year is fast approaching and we are excited to be working on new upcoming events.

On December 4, Dr. Hoby Wedler will present Tasting in the Dark, featuring UC Davis-made wines. It will be an incredibly unique wine tasting where attendees will be blindfolded and rely on their other senses. Hoby is an engaging sensory storyteller and it is sure to be a fun evening filled with the science and art of wine. Tickets are going fast, so be sure to reserve your seat soon for this one-of-a-kind opportunity.

We'll be announcing more winter and spring events next month, including topics such as the chemistry of distinctive wines, a Savor program with the UC Davis Coffee Center, partnership events with the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art on grains and ancient wines, and showcases featuring UC Davis alumni breweries and wineries.  

Chancellor Gary May recently shared a newsletter titled Cultivating the Future of Agriculture in California and Across the World. The Chancellor highlighted advancements across campus, including the Student Farm, the Department of Viticulture and Enology, the Milk Processing Lab, and the UC Davis Library, among many others. Please take a few minutes to read it and learn more about UC Davis excellence. 

As the holidays approach and the celebration season begins, I'd like to remind you of UC Davis-made products as gifts for family and friends, or to add to your dinner table. Explore Coffee Center roasts and Olive Center table olives on the UC Davis Bookstore website. Stop by the Meat Lab on campus for a large selection of products and check out Hilgard631 for upcoming sale dates of excellent UC Davis student-made wines to complete your feast.

Cheers to you for your continued support of UC Davis and the Robert Mondavi Institute!

Sincerely,

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

View the entire November 2025 newsletter.