Viticulture and Enology | BFTV Cluster News

2025 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium

UC Davis Viticulture and Enology (V&E) faculty, staff, and students represented the department at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium, January 29 and 30, 2025, at the Sacramento Convention Center. Our team’s booth and engagement with industry leaders highlighted the department's innovative research, cutting-edge approaches to teaching, evolving curriculum, new faculty, and our continuing leadership.

Spring Extension Update

Viticulture and Enology

The UC Davis V&E Extension Team organized and presented several programs since the beginning of the year. We hosted two “On Campus” programs. The first, on February 19th, was titled, Exploring different aspects of vine health.

Course Profile: VEN 127L

Viticulture and Enology

VEN 127L, officially known as "Post-Fermentation Wine Processing", is a hands-on course for V&E students designed to equip them with practical skills in winemaking. This course was created in 2018, after receiving industry feedback highlighting the need for more graduates who are skilled in post-fermentation processes, including hands-on experience in the winery.

Research Profile: Liang Chen

Viticulture and Enology

Liang Chen is an Assistant Professor and Wine Chemist in the Department of Viticulture and Enology, where his research program develops innovative analytical approaches to address fundamental scientific questions and practical challenges in wine chemistry.

Awards & Honors

Viticulture and Enology

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.

Viticulture & Enology Student Outreach Events

Viticulture and Enology

Our on-campus student outreach saw great momentum this winter, as we welcomed a wide range of visitors and collaborators. We hosted junior college counselors and presidents, middle and high school students from the Napa Valley area, and launched a new collaboration with the Lodi Appellation Inclusion Collective. Additionally, our undergraduate advisor Liz and the team did a phenomenal job encouraging admitted students to enroll at Aggie Day and Picnic Day.

Alumni Profile: Joe Shirley

Viticulture and Enology

Year of graduation and degree:
1997. M.S. in Food Science with an emphasis in Enology

Current job title/company:
Director of Commercial Luxury Winemaking, Trinchero Family Estates

What have you been up to since you graduated?
I worked in the Cellar at Sonoma Cutrer, then I went to work in the laboratory for the Trincheros and I have been with them ever since.

Student Profile: Naomi Morales

Viticulture and Enology

Student Standing
4th-year undergraduate student

Degree/Focus:
Viticulture and Enology, with a strong focus on winemaking, but a deep appreciation for viticulture too. I believe the best wines are made by those who keep their hands in both the vineyard and the cellar.

Hometown:
Pretty much all over California.

What brought you to UC Davis?
Sheer determination. I knew I didn’t want to uproot my life for just any program — it had to be UC Davis or nothing.

Viticulture & Enology Winter Extension Update

Viticulture and Enology

The UC Davis V & E Extension Team organized and presented a few programs in the fall. On November 20, 2024, we were in Temecula! Megan Bartlett, Dave Block, Ron Runnebaum, Akif Eskalen, Tian Tian, and Axel Herrera were the presenters. There were about 100 attendees from both Riverside and San Diego Counties! The topics covered ranged from the latest information on grapevine trunk diseases, powdery mildew and Botrytis bunch rot in vineyards; to how to properly clean and sanitize and do it more sustainably; to irrigation management, vine nutrition and regenerative practices.

Job Opening: Assistant Professor of Applied Viticulture

Viticulture and Enology

As part of UC Davis’s commitment to hire leading research faculty with an outstanding commitment to teaching and service that meets the needs of our diverse state and student population, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California announces an Assistant Professor faculty position (9-month) in the Department of Viticulture and Enology. Applications are encouraged from candidates with a strong background in any current or emerging area that will fit within our department’s disciplinary focus in Applied Viticulture.