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.
UC Davis has long been a hub for cutting-edge research, and with Ben in this new role, we can expect exciting developments and research in the winemaking space. His leadership will no doubt inspire future generations of professionals to push the boundaries of what’s possible in viticulture and winemaking. Learn more about this acknowledgement.
Professor Dario Cantù was newly appointed as the Ray Rossi Endowed Chair! On the same wavelength, Professor of Cooperative Extension in Enology, Anita Oberholster, was selected as the Louise Rossi Endowed Chair. The Ray Rossi and Louise Rossi Endowed Chairs in Viticulture and Enology were established through a transformative gift from the late Ray and Louise Rossi, honoring nearly a century of grape growing and winemaking by the Rossi family in Napa Valley. Ray Rossi, a proud UC Davis alumnus, and his sister, Louise, were dedicated supporters of the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology. We are deeply grateful for their generosity and enduring investment in the V & E program.
UC Davis Associate Professor, Ron Runnebaum, has been appointed as The Stephen Sinclair Scott Endowed Chair! For over 40 years, the Scott family and Scott Laboratories have generously supported the Department of Viticulture and Enology through endowed giving. Now, with this funding, Dr. Runnebaum will continue advancing his impactful teaching and research. We are honored by the enduring legacy of the Stephen Sinclair Scott Endowed Chair, which has made a lasting impact on our program and the California winegrowing community—and will continue to do so for years to come.
Assistant Professor, Mason Earles, was interviewed by Fox News Journalist, Bret Baier, to discuss his work on precision agriculture and AI.
Additionally, Mason was listed as one of Wine Business Monthly’s “Wine Industry Leaders” for his work on combining real-time photos, research and data to help viticulturists streamline operations and make better decisions.
To wrap up 2024, Professor David Block was named the Meeting Program Chair for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) annual meeting held in San Diego. This conference drew 6,000 attendees from across the US and internationally.