The Science of Wine – Robert Mondavi Institute
The Science of Wine – Robert Mondavi Institute
THE ORIGINAL FIELD TRIP TO NAPA HAS BEEN REPLACED.
Due to the recent fires in the Napa Valley area, we regret that we have to cancel the tour of UC Oakville Station and the nearby Robert Mondavi Winery. While Oakville station was not directly damaged by fire, it has been impacted by power outages, smoke and ash.
For those already registered for this tour, we can offer instead a tour of the vineyard, winery and laboratories at the Robert Mondavi Institute on the UC Davis campus.
Planted in 2011, the RMI vineyard is used to teach students how to plant, establish and train vineyards on a variety of trellis/training systems. It also houses a collection of 150 varieties from around the World; 4 acres of production blocks that include a selection of Petite Sirah clones; and an organic, dry-farmed block with a 1920s blend Zinfandel, Mataro, Carignane, Petit Sirah and Alicante Bouschet.
The 12,500-square-foot teaching and research winery includes a large experimental fermentation area with 152 200-liter research fermentation tanks and 14 2,000-liter fermentation tanks. There are three controlled-temperature rooms, barrel and bottle cellars, an analytical lab, a classroom and a special bottle cellar for donated wines. The winery is LEED Platinum certified.
The tour will be followed by a box lunch in the Good Life Garden, located between the institute’s buildings. The Good Life Garden aims to educate the public on how to buy and plant seasonal vegetables for the best taste and highest nutritional content.
Itinerary
8 am: Depart San Francisco Marriott Marquis, 780 Mission Street
10 a.m.: Arrive Robert Mondavi Institute, UC Davis
10 a.m. – noon: Tour of UC Davis teaching vineyard, teaching and research winery and laboratories
12-1 p.m.: Lunch in the Good Life Garden (Robert Mondavi Institute)
1 p.m.: Return to Marriott Marquis, San Francisco
Other tours available
Those registered for the Napa trip are automatically registered for the new UC Davis Wine trip. If you wish to choose a different field trip, a limited number of spaces are still available on trips that have not filled up. To switch, at no cost to you, please visit the field trip table in the main concourse of the Marriott Marquis, which will be staffed Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.