Raising a glass to 5 Years of Aggies Uncorked
UC Davis’ alumni wine club marks a milestone with celebration, scholarships and community.
Five years, dozens of wineries and countless toasts later, UC Davis’ Aggies Uncorked Alumni Wine Club is preparing to celebrate a major milestone this fall.
On Nov. 15, alumni and friends will gather at the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center for the club’s fifth anniversary celebration — an evening filled with fine wine, camaraderie, and a toast to the transformative impact alumni winemakers and members have made together.
“Aggies Uncorked is a powerful example of how the Cal Aggie Alumni Association (CAAA) brings our community together in meaningful ways,” said Dana Allen, assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations and CAAA executive director. “What began as a shared love of wine has grown into a vibrant network that celebrates alumni excellence and opens doors for future winemakers.”
The subscription-based wine club delivers curated bottles from UC Davis–connected wineries to members across the country, offering a unique way for alumni to experience the breadth and quality of Aggie winemaking. This fall also marks the release of Alumni III, a 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the third vintage of an exclusive collaborative blend crafted for members.
Aggies Uncorked has nearly 500 members today, and while wine is at the center of the story, the real celebration is about what flows from it: student support, alumni connection and a legacy of impact. This fall also marks the release of Alumni III, a 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the third vintage of an exclusive collaborative blend crafted for members. UC Davis invites non-members to the limited-edition alumni blend this holiday season — a festive way to share the club’s signature wine with friends or family nationwide.
That legacy now includes the Aggies Uncorked Endowed Scholarship in Viticulture and Enology, funded entirely through its wine club subscriptions. The scholarship supports the next generation of winemakers, ensuring students have an opportunity to pursue their dreams.
The first two scholarship recipients, Bodhi Williams and Janlucca Gutierrez-Leal, will be announced at the fifth anniversary event. Both began their studies at UC Davis this fall.
“I feel very honored to receive this award,” Gutierrez-Leal said. “What’s most exciting for me is that everything I will learn and experience through the winemaking program here at UC Davis will be from the absolute best minds in the field.”
The fifth anniversary event will feature live jazz music, refreshments and pours from more than two dozen wineries and winemakers, including Great Bear Vineyards, Venge Vineyards and Fontanella Family Winery — each led by UC Davis alumni who have helped shape California’s wine legacy.
Venge Vineyards brings more than half a century of Napa Valley winemaking expertise. Founded by Nils Venge ’67— often called the “King of Cabernet” — and now led by his son Kirk Venge ’98 who developed a fuller, riper style of winemaking, Venge Vineyards produces acclaimed wines that blend tradition with modern precision.
“UC Davis deepened my winemaking expertise and opened doors that still guide my success,” Kirk Venge said. “As a second-generation viticulture and enology graduate, it was the only place I dreamed of learning the craft of wine.”
Great Bear Vineyards is a boutique Davis winery led by husband-and-wife team Marcus and Jenny Meadows-Smith. Jenny earned her winemaking certificate through the UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education program and, with the help of UC Davis professors, the couple established their entire estate vineyard from the ground up. Known for elegant wines and sustainable farming practices, Great Bear has become a favorite among wine enthusiasts.
“It’s humbling to share our wines and have them tasted by fellow alumni,” Jenny Meadows-Smith said. “I never expected that we could produce world-class wines in Yolo County, but our awards have shown that we can. I’m excited to pour them and see what people think.”
Adding to the impressive lineup is Fontanella Family Winery, perched on the slopes of Napa’s Mount Veeder and celebrated for its small-lot, handcrafted wines. The winery was founded by UC Davis alum Jeff Fontanella ’99 and his wife, Karen.
“Had I been at any other UC, I don’t think I would have followed this path,” Jeff Fontanella said. “I wandered into the viticulture and enology program and discovered this cool major that was unique to Davis. The blending of creativity and science really struck a chord with me.”
The Fontanellas’ connection to the university has come full circle as their son, John Fontanella, begins his first year at UC Davis and sets his sights on continuing the family’s winemaking legacy.
The Aggies Uncorked wine club has featured nearly 60 wineries and alumni winemakers since its founding, shining a spotlight on UC Davis graduates who continue to shape the industry. Each bottle is a reminder that the Aggie community extends far beyond campus, into the heart of California wine country and beyond.