Dan Kline is a second-year Viticulture and Enology graduate student.
Where are you from originally?
Lincoln University (Southeastern), Pennsylvania
What brought you to UC Davis?
I first heard about UC Davis from a winemaker I worked for in upstate New York; she told me it was the best place to study Viticulture and Enology, and is an alumna herself. I decided it was the best next step to get a formal education in V&E. I have also always been enamored with California, wanting to live here for a time, and Davis allowed that to happen; furthermore, it situated me much closer to California wine country than I was in Pennsylvania.
What do you enjoy the most about studying in this program?
The people. I’ve made so many friends here, all connected through our shared love of wine. It’s truly the best part of the program.
Have you interned at a winery/vineyard management company?
Yes. I interned in the Finger Lakes at a small winery called Barnstormers. It was a great opportunity to take on many different roles. Since I was the only intern assisting the winemaker, I got hands-on experience in all aspects of the process.
I was also a viticulture intern for two harvests in Maryland at a small family farm called Pad’s View Farm. They sold their grapes to a Philadelphia winery called Mural City Cellars.
I am currently interning at Bedrock Wine Co., and while it’s still early in the internship, it has been amazing so far. The company invests heavily in its interns with vineyard visits, dedicated education, and they have a deep commitment to soil health and preserving some of California’s oldest vines. It’s humbling to feel like just a small part of these vineyards’ lives; passing through, tending to them, and making wine from their grapes.
What are your plans after you graduate?
I plan to gain more experience by doing harvests around the world, particularly in Austria and Australia/Tasmania. After that, I hope to secure a long-term position in viticulture.
What is one unique thing about you?
I hold a Swiss Professional Degree in Hospitality Management from Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, and I also write from the bottom to the top, which people tell me is weird and backwards.