Awards and Honors

In 2025, WineBusiness Monthly selected leaders in the industry “who give the wine industry hope for the future, that we can acknowledge that times are tough and the headlines are less-than-positive and still find inspiration in those who buck trends, find innovative solutions and push all those they meet to do and be better.” One category celebrates mentors who generously share their knowledge, shaping not only skilled professionals but passionate ambassadors for wine.

The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) board of directors is pleased to announce the selection of the winner of the 2026 Sanders Award for Advancing Biotic Science: Prof. David Mills, Ph.D., a Distinguished Professor and researcher at University of California, Davis, USA. Through his 30-year career in microbiology, Prof. Mills has been a leader in elucidating the genomics of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, and has worked diligently to translate scientific insights into practical applications.

Congratulations to the students, faculty and staff who have received recent awards and honors.

Awards and honors continue to roll in for the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology (V&E) faculty. We’re thrilled to share that our very own V&E Professor Dario Cantù has been named one of 471 newly elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)! These fellows are recognized for their exceptional achievements in science, including research, teaching, administration and science communication.

We are excited to share some wonderful news from the world of viticulture and enology! Associate Professor and Chair, Ben Montpetit, has been appointed the Richard M. Kunde Chair in Viticulture and Enology (V & E), honoring a legendary alumnus and Sonoma County grape pioneer! This prestigious appointment is a testament to Richard’s decades of dedication, leadership, and groundbreaking contributions to the wine industry.

Congratulations to all students who received scholarships and awards this year. The Department is grateful to the generous donors who make these opportunities possible.  

The Domaine Carneros Le Rêve Scholarship Award 
Rachel Smith

David E. Gallo Educational Enhancement Award 
Victoria Lasch

Heck Memorial Scholarship
Nikita Kodjak
Chris Severt

International Wine and Food Science Award 
Fallon Ely

Shout out to the nine FST faculty members on the World's Top 2% Scientists list!  Elsevier/Stanford's Top 2% Scientists identifies the most cited scholars in their fields. This ranking (derived from Scopus database data and based on the Elsevier data repository) highlights researchers whose work has had a significant impact across various scientific disciplines.