Viticulture and Enology Content

The Conversation: Why Does Red Wine Cause Headaches?

Karen Michele Nikos — December 18, 2024 - 11:16am

Medical accounts of red wine headaches go back to Roman times, but the experience is likely as old as winemaking – something like 10,000 years. As chemists specializing in winemaking, we wanted to try to figure out the source of these headaches.

ORG CHART: Viticulture and Enology, CNPRC

Cody Kitaura — February 27, 2024 - 10:08am

Two new areas on campus have new leaders, one interim and the other permanent. Find out more in this week’s Org Chart column.

Genetic Diversity of Wild North American Grapes Mapped

Emily C Dooley — December 19, 2023 - 8:00am

51�ԹϺ�� Davis mapped the genetic traits of wild North American grapes, which will help breeders tackle challenges like climate change.

Anita Oberholster and Colleagues Recognized for Smoke Taint Research

Amy M Quinton — January 31, 2023 - 2:28pm

Wine Enthusiast Magazine has named 51�ԹϺ�� Davis enologist Anita Oberholster and two of her colleagues from other universities “Innovators of the Year” for their research on the effects of wildfire smoke on wine grapes.

Police Seek to Recover Historic Distillation Column

Andy Fell — March 23, 2022 - 8:30am

51�ԹϺ�� Davis police are investigating the theft of a historic distillation column stolen from the Jackson Sustainable Winery building on campus the weekend of March 19-20. Officials fear the copper column, which was used for teaching distilling on campus for 50 years and was to have formed part of a historical display, may be sold for scrap.

Researchers Pinpoint Drought-Resistant Traits in Grape Rootstocks

Andy Fell — December 16, 2021 - 12:31pm

Scientists at 51�ԹϺ�� Davis have identified new root traits that help grapevines resist drought. The findings, published in the journal Annals of Botany, could speed up the development of grape rootstocks that protect vines from dry conditions, helping the grape and wine industry adapt to climate change.

The research, led by Department of Viticulture and Enology Assistant Professor Megan Bartlett, comes as 80% of California is experiencing extreme drought.

51�ԹϺ�� Davis Announces New Viticulture and Enology Executive Leadership Board Members

Amy M Quinton — October 19, 2021 - 8:00am

As the world’s top-ranked research institute for viticulture and enology, the University of California, Davis, is pleased to announce the newest members of its Executive Leadership Board for the Department of Viticulture an

Increasing Temperatures Led to Better-Tasting Wine Grapes, but for How Long?

Amy M Quinton — October 04, 2021 - 11:45am

Increasing temperatures from climate change have led to better tasting wine grapes, but a new 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study suggests we may be at a tipping point.

Machines Can Help Wine Grape Industry Survive Labor Shortage

Amy M Quinton — June 07, 2021 - 10:15am

Wine grape growers in California and elsewhere face increasing labor costs and severe labor shortages, making it difficult to manage and harvest a vineyard while maintaining profitability. Growers are increasingly turning to machines for pruning, canopy management and harvesting, but how well these practices are executed can substantially affect yield and quality.

The Wines of Change

Katherine E Kerlin — April 07, 2021 - 11:14am

California is famous for its wine—and for its increasingly extreme weather. In recent years, the state’s winemakers and growers have had to face drought, heat waves, wildfires, smoke and an entirely warmer climate. These threats aren’t going away soon. But 51�ԹϺ�� Davis, which boasts one of the nation’s leading viticulture and enology programs, is on the case.