From Vine to Vision

With over 145 years of global leadership in grape and wine education, the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology (V&E) enters a new era with the launch of Hilgard631. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit makes it possible for us to share our wine with the general public for the benefit of student scholarship. Hilgard631 supports our mission of uniting a diverse community of faculty, staff, and students via the knowledge and learning required to produce exceptional wine.

Origins of Hilgard631

More on UC Davis V&E

The name Hilgard631 pays tribute to Dr. Eugene Hilgard, a pioneering soil scientist, viticulturist, and the first director of the University Agricultural Experiment Station (AES), which has, and continues to, lay the groundwork for successful agriculture in California. The number 631 is the address of the UC Davis LEED Platinum Teaching and Research Winery on Hilgard Lane—the world’s first winery to receive this distinction in sustainability. In selecting a name, we aimed to not only honor our department’s strong ties to history and agriculture, but also our unwavering commitment to scholarship, innovation, and sustainability.

The Grapes and Wines

Wines are made in the UC Davis LEED Platinum Teaching and Research Winery from grapes grown by us. They come from Oakville Station, our premier Napa Valley vineyard used for generations to produce both world-class research and wines, and our vineyards that surround the UC Davis campus. Each year students with the support of V&E staff and faculty make a variety of wines as part of the classes taught to undergraduate and graduate students. Every bottle is handcrafted by Aggies—a tribute to the passion and excellence that defines the University of California.

Hands sort freshly harvested grapes in the top image, highlighting the winemaking process. Below, lush vineyard rows and a dimly lit barrel room showcase the journey from vine to cellar at a working winery.

Positioning Aggies as Leaders in the Wine Industry

Starting with the basics: viticulture is the study of how grapes are grown, with a focus on creating the best conditions for healthy, high-quality fruit. Enology is the science (and art) of transforming those grapes into wine through fermentation, blending, and aging.

At UC Davis, students can earn a Master of Science degree, Bachelor of Science degree, or a minor in viticulture and enology. These degrees equip students with the scientific foundation of winemaking, combined with hands-on experiential learning in the vineyard and winery. PhD and postdoctoral scholars can further perform research in the laboratories of our multidisciplinary V&E faculty. These scholars are central to faculty research success, our faculty having published more scholarly articles in viticulture, enology, and wine than any other institution; their nearly 6,000 publications have been cited more than 240,000 times worldwide.

The career opportunities for V&E graduates are limitless, with many going on to be winemakers, vineyard managers, professors, consultants, researchers, industry leaders, and more. The V&E Department’s cutting-edge facilities, research-driven curriculum, and deep industry ties shape students into thinkers, problem-solvers, and leaders whose careers will help transform the wine industry locally and globally.

Rows of grapevines in a vineyard stretching into the distance, with autumn-colored leaves and a mountainous landscape in the background under a clear sky.

Blending Knowledge and Experience

The spirit of Hilgard631 is most evident in the VEN 127L: Post-Fermentation Wine Processing course. Each spring, Aggies spend ten weeks collaborating in small groups to produce student-made wine; they learn to blend, adjust, fine, age, stabilize, filter, design the labels, and bottle and package wines. This course bridges theory and practice, giving students the chance to apply what they have learned in previous UC Davis courses to real-world winemaking, under the guidance of industry consultants. Following several successful vintages, the launch of Hilgard631 marks a significant milestone for the department and for our students, giving V&E graduates one more achievement to celebrate as they embark on their professional wine journeys.

Our Selection

We carry a unique selection of 12 student made wines and two UC Davis V&E label options.

Oakville AVA, Napa Valley

2024

Sauvignon Blanc

$ 50.00

Oakville AVA, Napa Valley

2020

Cabernet Sauvignon

$125.00

Available Student Wines

Oakville AVA, Napa Valley

2023

Arvoré

Cabernet Sauvignon

$40.00

Oakville AVA, Napa Valley

2021

Ambrosia

Cabernet Sauvignon

$40.00

Yolo County

2023

Kosmo