Event Date
Join us for an evening with renowned certified sommelier and Wine Enthusiast 40 under 40 tastemaker, Cha McCoy, as she shares her new book, Wine Pairing for the People, a first-of-its-kind guide to inclusive wine pairing that challenges conventional wisdom by pairing wines with the rich, diverse cuisines of the world.
The wine world often emphasizes that “what grows together, goes together,” prioritizing European cuisines and neglecting pairing options for vibrant, flavorful dishes from regions where wine grapes aren’t prevalent. Diving in by continent and then by region or country, from Africa to the Caribbean, Latin America to the United States of America, and Asia, McCoy takes readers around the world, sharing her journey of learning and connecting with culinary traditions and regional cuisines. Part practical guide and part travelogue, Wine Pairing for the People will appeal to people who love to cook and eat out, armchair travelers, and hobby and professional sommeliers and chefs alike.
The evening’s wine selection will be unique to the program and will be discussed in her lecture.
Wine Pairing for the People will be available for purchase immediately following the lecture. Special thanks to Underground Books.
Schedule:
- 6:00 pm: Lecture
- 7:00 pm: Special wine tasting, light appetizers and book sales.
- 8:00 pm: Event ends.
Registration:
The event will be at the Robert Mondavi Institute Sensory Theater on the UC Davis Campus. General admission is $40, UC Davis faculty/staff are $35, and students are $30. Seating is limited.
Speaker:
Cha McCoy, MBA, is an entrepreneur, educator, and a NAACP-nominated author. As a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, she developed The Communion, a wine dinner series that offers an inviting, accessible approach to gathering and enjoying wine. This experience inspired her to open her first brick-and-mortar, The Communion Wine & Spirits, and her debut book, Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond. The dinner series was profiled in Food & Wine, and Cha was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40. Cha has held coveted positions, including Cherry Bombe Magazine’s first beverage director, the head of beverage for the Charleston Wine + Food
Festival, and a sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Portugal. Passionate about education, she spends her spare time mentoring and teaching at her alma mater, Syracuse University, where she served as an adjunct professor, educating and inspiring new wine drinkers. Catch Cha if you can in Harlem, New York—or on one of her international adventures.
Venue & Parking:
This event will be in-person at the Robert Mondavi Institute, Sensory Building. Parking is available at the Gateway Parking Structure. Parking payment is enforced on weekdays. There are three options for parking payment:
- UC Davis uses AggiePark via the AMP app – please download the app ahead of time and set up your profile. Select the zone which you parked using the map or icon in the top right corner of the app. This is the preferred and easiest method.
- If you do not have a smartphone to download the app, you can also sign up for an account online and follow the steps on the website: https://aimsmobilepay.com/
- Alternatively, permit machines in the Gateway Parking Structure accept credit cards for hourly parking. The cost is $3 per hour and you will need to enter your license plate number into the machine to purchase a permit. Machines are located on the east side of the [arking structure, at street level between the Manetti Shrem Museum and the Mondavi Arts Center.
Questions?
If you have questions about this event, please email [email protected].