January 2020

Vanessa with her award

FST's Vanessa Lieberman wins UC Davis Safety Star Award

Food Science and Technology

Congratulations go out to Vanessa Lieberman, FST's Department Safety Coordinator in Biosafety and a Lab Assistant in the Harris Lab, who has won the UC Davis Safety Star Award for the 4th quarter of 2019!

Two separate nominators submitted Lieberman's name for the award: Philip Barruel, the Campus Biological Safety Manager, and Dr. Erin DiCaprio, Cooperative Extension Specialist in the Department of Food Science and Technology.

Dr. Singh

Dr. Paul Singh named Harraways Visiting Professor by the University of Otago

Food Science and Technology

New Zealand's University of Otago named FST Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Singh the 2020 Harraways Visiting Professor.

The university's website announced his appointment with a news story, explaining, "Professor Singh is highly recognised in the field of food engineering education, research, development, consultation and technology transfer programs.

"Professor Singh will give workshops and public lectures in Dunedin and Auckland during his August visit, and also attend the Institute of Food Science and Technology 20th World Congress in Auckland."

photo of leaves with red blotch disease

Dr. Anita Oberholster to lead USDA-NIFA-SCRI Research and Extension Grant to Study Grapevine Red Blotch Virus

Viticulture and Enology

A $3 Million Grant was awarded to a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the UC system (Berkeley, Davis, Riverside), ANR, USDA -ARS, as well as Oregon State University and the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center.  Research will focus on the ecobiology, impact, and management of Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV) and its vector(s) in California and Oregon vineyards.

Senior Hannah Hanlon

Student Profile: DEVO president Hannah Hanlon

Viticulture and Enology

Undergraduate Hannah Hanlon grew up in rural Minnesota, complaining about working for her parents as many children do. When she was ten years old, her parents opened a small family-run winery. Working summers in the vineyard and tasting room, and winters in the winery, she was determined to get out of the country and out of farming.

Anita Oberholster presenting to a large group

Recap: On-The-Road in Temecula

Viticulture and Enology

On November 18, 2019, UC Davis V and E Extension traveled to Temecula, CA, to meet with growers and vintners in Riverside County.  To determine the most relevant topics to present, we worked closely with Carmen Gispert, the Viticulture Farm Advisor for Riverside, San Diego and San Bernardino counties. 

horse-drawn carriage in front of vineyard

VEN celebrates 140th anniversary in 2020 with special Alumni Day

Viticulture and Enology

The Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis is celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2020.  To celebrate this milestone, we are planning an all-class alumni get-together on April 24, 2020.

Be sure to save the date!  You won't want to miss this fun, informative program, the chance to see old friends, and an opportunity to expand your network.  We are planning a fun yet information-packed day.

Program highlights include:

fermenters in the winery

Recap of VEN event "Fermentation readiness: harvest decisions from the vineyard to the winery"

Viticulture and Enology

On July 29, 2019, UC Davis V&E Extension hosted a summer program titled “Fermentation readiness: harvest decisions from the vineyard to the winery.”  We spent the day going through our harvest checklists with Lise Asimont, Director of Vineyard Operations, Cakebread Cellars, sharing how she evaluates vineyards, ensures grape quality, and determines potential harvest dates.  Our new UC Davis winemaker, Leticia Chacon-Rodriquez, and Patricia Howe, current post-doctoral fellow at UC Davis, covered harvest readiness in the winery and winery lab, respectively.