Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis

Congratulations to our UC Davis Viticulture & Enology (V&E) graduates on crossing the finish line! We celebrated our graduating students with heartfelt speeches, proud moments, and plenty of joy.
A special shoutout to Distinguished Professor, Hildegarde Heymann, for delivering an inspiring message, encouraging students to go ahead and deviate from the path you thought you were going to take. Those unplanned adventures may lead you to a very fulfilling career that you never imagined.
This year’s graduates selected Distinguished Professor, David Block, as the recipient of the Faculty Teaching Award in recognition of his outstanding commitment to V&E students. V&E Chair .montpetit and academic advisor Liz P. rounded out the ceremony with heartfelt remarks, reminding graduates that they will always be part of the V&E family.

Image Description 1: Family and Friends waiting for the V & E Graduation Celebration to begin
Image Description 2: UC Davis Viticulture & Enology Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 with ribbon and magnet
Image Description 3: Student Advisor, Liz Price, making sure all is ready
Image Description 4: Department Chair and Professor, Ben Montpetit speaking to graduating students and their guests, faculty, and staff
Image Description 5: Distinguished Professor, Hildegarde Heymann delivering a speech to graduating students and guests
Image Description 6: DEVO President and V&E MS Graduate, Dan Kline, announcing the winner of the DEVO 2026 faculty teaching award
Image Description 7: Distinguished Professor, David E Block, accepting the DEVO 2026 faculty teaching award
Image Description 8: Group Photo of V & E BS and MS graduates with faculty and staff
Image Description 9: Group Photo of V & E BS and MS graduates with faculty, staff, and bubbles!
Image Description 10: Group of graduating students in the Olive Grove

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Hilgard631 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that allows the UC Davis Department of Viticulture & Enology (V&E) to share student-made wines with the public. Every bottle sold supports student scholarships and helps advance V&E’s mission of education, innovation, and community.

We are excited to announce the new line of Hilgard631 wines made possible by the V&E students, staff, and faculty. Through the Spring 2026 VEN 127L course, students gain hands-on experience in blending, bottling, and label design while working alongside industry professionals.

Hilgard631 reflects UC Davis V&E’s commitment to preparing the next generation of wine industry leaders through research, collaboration, and experiential learning.

Read today's UC Davis news story about the relaunch and the students behind the wines: https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/uc-davis-uncorks-second-annual-wine-sale

Learn more about this year's relaunch by visiting: hilgard631.org. Visitors must be 21+ to enter the site.

Image description: Three bottles of Hilgard631 wines.
Image description: Student applying labels to wine bottles.
Image description: Two students holding bottles they helped produce.
Image description: Wine bottles moving through bottling line.
Image description: UC Davis Viticulture & Enology branded wine corks.
Image description: UC Davis winemaker holding a finished bottle of wine.

Congratulations to Amber D., one of our many students graduating this week! 🎉🎓🤗

Learn more about Amber and what she's up to next:

Favorite V&E memory:
My favorite memory was going on the Intro to Winemaking study abroad trip, which was my first major introduction to the wine industry. During the trip, I met some of my closest friends, explored fascinating French wine regions, and gained invaluable knowledge and experiences that deepened my passion for wine.

Post-graduation plans:
I will be working as a winemaking intern for The Wine Group in Madera, California

Favorite UC Davis class:
VEN 127L with Professor David Block was my favorite class because it brought together everything I had learned in previous courses to create a finished product, which made the experience especially rewarding and gratifying.

Image Description 1: A student posing behind an egghead with their graduation sash.
Image Description 2: A person wearing a yellow rain coat and another picture of them posing with green wine grapes.

Congratulations to Ivy J., one of our many students graduating this quarter! 🎉🎓🤗

Learn more about Ivy and what she's up to next:

Favorite V&E memory:
Meeting my two best friends in my VEN 101C class.

Post-graduation plans:
Working with Woodbridge and Strad Meadery

Favorite UC Davis class:
Wine Microbiology Laboratory with Dr. Ben Montpetit

Image Description 1: Person posing on bench in front of water
Image Description 2: A student stirring liquid in a bucket and student posing in a raincoat and baseball hat.

Congratulations to Gianna S., one of our many students graduating this week! 🎉🎓🤗

Learn more about Gianna and what she's up to next:

Favorite V&E memory:
While it is difficult to narrow it down to a single memory, the V&E program has introduced me to an incredible community. The genuine friendships, along with the passionate faculty and advisors have made these four years truly unforgettable.

Post-graduation plans:
I’m working at Schramsberg this summer. After that, I plan on traveling to do harvests in different countries for a few years before coming back to further pursue viticulture in California.

Favorite UC Davis class:
VEN 101a and VEN 111

Image Description 1: Gianna posing in a vineyard.
Image Description 2: Gianna and her classmates posing for photos.

Congratulations to Amanda Z., one of our many students graduating this week! 🎉🎓🤗

Learn more about Amanda and what she's up to next:

Favorite V&E memory:
My favorite V&E Memory was getting to visit Austria and Hungary on the summer immersion trip. It was really awesome to get to experience the wine, food and culture of Austria and Hungary with my friends.

Post-graduation plans:
After graduation, I will be working as the Enologist at Grassini Family Vineyards in Santa Barbara County.

Favorite UC Davis class:
My favorite class was 127L. It was a super valuable and fulfilling experience to get to blend and craft our own wines and get to share the finished product with our classmates.

Image Description 1: Amanda holding posing behind a pair of wine glasses.
Image Description 2: Amanda and friends posing in front of a river and Amanda smiling between wine barrels.

Congratulations to Assistant Professor of Sensory Science Ha Nguyen on receiving an NIH/NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR R21) grant to support her project, “Mechanisms of Bitterness Reduction by Sweeteners.”

Dr. Nguyen’s research combines human sensory and molecular biology studies to better understand how sweeteners suppress bitterness across foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. The findings could help improve flavor balance, support the development of more palatable products, and reduce reliance on sugars and non-sugar sweeteners.

This research also has exciting implications for wine sensory science, particularly in understanding bitterness perception and optimizing flavor in no- and low-alcohol wines.

Read more in the latest UC Davis Viticulture & Enology newsletter: https://news.bftv.ucdavis.edu/viticulture-and-enology/awards-honors-2

Image Description: Ha smiling at the camera with a tree in the background.

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Congratulations to Zorka L., one of our many students graduating this month! 🎉🎓🤗

Learn more about Zorka and what she's up to next:

Favorite V&E memory:
My favorite UC Davis V&E memory would have to be all of the immersion trips I went on with DEVO. Particularly this winter in Paso Robles where I got to spend time and get to know my fellow DEVOtees better :)

Post-graduation plans:
Working harvest at Chandon de Briailles in Savigny-les-Beaune through the Chevalier du Tastevin Fellowship!

Favorite UC Davis class:
VEN 124 with Professor Heymann!

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Image Description 1: Zorka posing with a wine glass in the mountains.
Image Description 2: Zorka next to a large grapevine and sitting on a chair.

Congratulations to Sydney G., one of our many students graduating this quarter! 🎉🎓🤗

Learn more about Sydney and what she's up to next:

Favorite V&E memory:
I had the best summer ever working my first harvest at the Teaching and Research Winery here on campus this past vintage! I learned skills and techniques that I can carry with me for the rest of my time in the industry, and I was lucky enough to form lifelong friendships with my fellow interns.

Post-graduation plans:
I'll be working as a cellar intern at Joseph Phelps Vineyards in St. Helena this fall before heading to Te Mata Estate in Hawke's Bay in January!

Favorite UC Davis class:
VEN 125 and VEN 125L with Dr. Heymann and Dr. Nguyen

Image Description 1: Sydney posing in the courtyard in front of the UC Davis Teaching Winery.
Image Description 2: Sydney operating a machine and at Joseph Phelps Vineyard

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