Event Date
Vine to Mind 2026 brings together a distinctive mix of leaders to discuss the intersection of wine, data science and artificial intelligence.
This year's Vine to Mind Symposium, hosted by the Harvard Data Science Initiative, is at UC Davis, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, a blind-tasting event that forever changed the landscape of California wine and beyond.
This year’s gathering will explore how wine, data science and AI are shaping the future of the global wine industry. It will feature two days of thought-provoking insights from leading experts and engaging panel discussions.
The symposium provides opportunities to engage with renowned winemakers, economists, scientists and industry leaders through keynote conversations, panel discussions and collaborative sessions. Attendees can exchange ideas, learn about new analytical tools and technologies, and network with professionals across the global wine ecosystem.
- The program features keynote conversations with Karen MacNeil, Michael Mondavi, and Christine Wente, alongside sessions with industry icons including Orley Ashenfelter, Eric Asimov, Jing Cao, Felicity Carter, Xiao-Li Meng, Ben Montpetit, and more — bringing together voices from winemaking, economics, data science, and wine media.
- The symposium will be hosted at the International Center and the Robert Mondavi Institute.
Highlights of Vine to Mind 2026
- May 18: Judgment of Davis Wine Tasting Competition. Wine submissions are welcome from around the globe, learn more at the link above.
- May 19: Symposium Day 1 - 50 Years of Changes in Wine Perception and Demand
- May 20: Symposium Day 2 - The Next 50 Years
- May 21: Napa Valley Wine Experience with planned visits to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (tasting and lunch) and Clos Du Val (tasting).
- Visit the Vine to Mind website for the complete list of topics and speakers.
Registration on the Vine to Mind website.
UC Davis affiliates receive $100 off their registration when using the code: DAVIS100.
This symposium is co-organized by the Harvard Data Science Initiative and the Departments of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Viticulture & Enology at UC Davis, with support from the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science.
The Harvard Data Science Initiative's mission is twofold: (1) to illuminate the integration of new and emerging data-driven tools and technologies with established practices used in viticulture, winemaking, and wine markets and (2) to explore the potential and prospects for AI and data-intensive tools and technologies to be used to support and shape the future of wine.