Last Saturday, we welcomed TASTE guests for an evening of wine, food, and music in the courtyard of the Robert Mondavi Institute Sensory building. The weather was beautiful, and as I walked around and chatted with attendees and vendors, I was reminded how important it is to gather together and connect. I had so many great conversations with colleagues, friends, and neighbors. Watching guests discover new restaurants and wineries was gratifying, and seeing vendors connect with other vendors showed how we can build stronger connections in the food and wine space.

I especially want to thank our event manager, student employees, volunteers who worked tirelessly to host a fantastic event, and the restaurants, wineries, and organizations that treated our guests to delicious bites and drinks. Please peruse the list of vendors and acknowledge their generosity when you visit them. We'll share event photos and a video highlight soon.

Next week, the Walt Klenz Lectureship Series on Wine Business will explore the idea that there are no safe levels of alcohol consumption, as stated by the World Health Organization. The public trend of low or no alcohol has negatively impacted wine sales and could change public policy on how we raise a glass. Join us on October 22 for an engaging lecture and discussion with Ed Matovcik, Vice President of Public Affairs for Constellation Brands. It is sure to be an enlightening evening!

UC Davis is proud to have state-of-the-art facilities and three professors leading sensory science research in the RMI complex. Their work depends on individuals like you to give feedback and opinions on various foods and products. If you'd like to help, there are opportunities listed below, including fast-casual Asian food, sports drinks, and street food. Each study has a link to a survey that you can fill out. I hope you get a chance to be part of their consumer testing. If you want to learn more about sensory science, please watch our virtual tour of the RMI Sensory building.

Please help us grow our audience by forwarding this email to a friend or colleague. Thanks for being a supporter!

Sincerely,

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

View the entire October 2024 newsletter.