On Campus Grape Day with the Department of Viticulture & Enology at UC Davis and UC ANR

On February 18, 2026, we will host a Grape Day with UC ANR at the UC Davis Conference Center.

REGISTER
 

DATE AND TIME

Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM 

LOCATION

UC Davis Conference Center, 550 Alumni Lane, Davis, CA 95616
 

AGENDA 
 

8:00 AM 
Registration, Coffee & Pastries

8:30 AM  
Welcome and housekeeping
Karen L. Block, Director of Industry Relations, Department of Viticulture & Enology, UC Davis

8:35 AM 
Department Update
Ben Montpetit, Chair & Professor, Department of Viticulture & Enology, UC Davis

8:50 AM   
Biostimulants: What are they and how can they be used in viticulture?
Joy Hollingsworth, Table Grape Advisor, Tulare & Kings Counties, UC Cooperative Extension

9:15 AM 
Mechanized canopy management: What could go wrong?
Karl Lund, Area Viticulture Advisor, Madera, Merced, and Mariposa Counties, UC Cooperative Extension

9:40 AM 
Why is microbiome research useful for grape production?
Philippe Rolshausen, Professor of Cooperative Extension, Subtropical Horticulture, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside

10:05 AM 
How does grape rootstock perform under both drought and salinity?
George Zhuang, Viticulture Farm Advisor, Fresno County, UC Cooperative Extension

10:30 AM  
BREAK

10:45 AM 
Under-appreciated factors in grape powdery mildew management
Monica Cooper, Farm Advisor, Viticulture, Napa County, UC Cooperative Extension

11:15 AM 
Updates on glassy-winged sharpshooter and spotted lanternfly
Cindy Kron, North Coast IPM Advisor, Sonoma, Napa, Lake, and Mendocino Counties, UC Cooperative Extension

11:45 AM 
Managing wine flavor in modern winemaking
Liang Chen, Assistant Professor, Department of Viticulture & Enology, UC Davis

12:10 PM 
Lunch

1:20 PM 
Scaling precision viticulture out of the lab into the wine industry
Mason Earles, Associate Professor, Departments of Viticulture & Enology and Biological & Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis

1:45 PM 
Biological and sustainable strategies for grapevine trunk disease management
Akif Eskalen, Professor of Cooperative Extension, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis

2:15 PM 
Vineyard mothballing: Strategies for successful implementation
Chris Chen, Integrated Vineyard Systems Advisor, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake Counties, UC Cooperative Extension

2:40 PM 
Break

2:50 PM 
Trellis, rootstock, and mineral nutrition affect productivity and grape quality, Matt Fidelibus, Cooperative Extension Specialist, Viticulture, Department of Viticulture & Enology, UC Davis

3:15 PM 
Grape to glass: Why do we taste wine differently
Ha Nguyen, Assistant Professor, Department of Viticulture & Enology, UC Davis

3:40 PM 
Q&A, Discussion & Wrap-Up
 

REGISTRATION

Early Registration (until January 28): $175

Regular Registration (January 29-February 11): $200

Late & Onsite Registration (February 12 onward): $225
 

REGISTER
 

Registration closes on February 11th at 5 pm PT. After this time, late or in-person registrations may be available but cannot be guaranteed depending upon space and catering availability. Please reach out to Caroline Bamforth to confirm availability. 

CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY

• If you can no longer attend, you may substitute your registration for another attendee at any time.
• If you need to cancel your registration, you may do so for any reason before February 11th for a 75% refund less the registration system's processing fees, which are non-refundable.
• No refunds will be made after February 11th.
• If you need to cancel please email [email protected].

CONTINUING EDUCATION

This event qualifies for 1.5 CA-DPR hours (application approved).