Join us for an exclusive wine tasting experience, where you'll learn to taste and appreciate wines like a true connoisseur. Whether you are a casual sipper or an aspiring sommelier, this immersive session will elevate your wine knowledge and refine your palate.

During this guided tasting, you’ll explore wines from a technical perspective, stepping into the shoes of a winemaker to understand elements like silky textures, smooth finishes, and balanced tannins. You’ll gain the vocabulary to describe aroma, taste, and mouthfeel with confidence, deepening your appreciation for every glass. Most importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to savor a selection of unique and distinctive wines, each leaving a lasting impression on your senses.

Event Schedule:

5:45 pm: Doors open
6:00 pm: Lecture and tasting
7:30 pm: Program ends

Registration:

Update: the event is SOLD OUT

The lecture will be in the Silverado Vineyards Sensory Theater on the UC Davis Campus. Seating is limited. Tickets are $40 per person, $30 for faculty/staff. Free student tickets have sold out.

Speakers:

Arpa Boghozian is a Ph.D. candidate in Dr. Anita Oberholster's laboratory at UC Davis, where she researches grapevine red blotch virus, a significant concern for vineyard health and fruit quality. Her work aims to improve understanding of the disease's impact on grape development through ripening and its effect on grape and wine phenolics. In addition to her research, she is a tour guide at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Food and Wine Science, where she leads educational tours and curates unique and informative wine tastings for visiting guests. With a deep passion for both science and wine, Arpa combines her expertise in viticulture and enology to share the science behind winemaking with visitors, bridging the gap between research and the world of wine.

Lik Xian is a Ph.D. candidate in the laboratories of Dr. Anita Oberholster and Dr. Jean-Xavier Guinard. His research focuses on understanding the threshold perception of smoke taint in wine using sensory and chemical analysis, aiming to provide the wine industry with effective mitigation strategies for smoke-impacted wines.

With a background in sensory science, Lik has worked extensively on consumer acceptance, quality evaluation, and descriptive analysis of wines, including characterizing wine mouthfeel. In addition to his work in enology, he is a researcher at the UC Davis Coffee Center, where he explores brewing methodologies to optimize the sensory qualities of coffee. By bridging his expertise in wine and coffee, Lik is dedicated to enhancing the overall tasting experience for consumers.

Venue & Parking:

This event will be in-person at Silverado Vineyards Sensory Theater at the Robert Mondavi Institute, Sensory Building. Parking is available at the Gateway Parking Structure. Parking payment is enforced on weekdays. There are three options for parking payment:

1. UC Davis uses AggiePark via the AMP app – please be sure to download the app ahead of time and set up your profile. Select the zone which you parked using the map or icon in the top right corner of the app. This is the preferred and easiest method.
2. If you do not have a smartphone to download the app, you can also sign up for an account online and follow the steps on the website: https://aimsmobilepay.com/
3. Alternatively, permit machines in the Gateway Parking Structure accept credit cards for hourly parking. The cost is $3 per hour and you will need to enter your license plate number into the machine to purchase a permit. Machines are located on the east side of the [arking structure, at street level between the Manetti Shrem Museum and the Mondavi Arts Center.

Questions?

If you have questions about this event, please email brorendain@ucdavis.edu.