Sonoma County Vineyard Technical Group Field Trip – UC Davis & Wolfskill Repository Bus Tour

For their monthly meeting, the Sonoma County Vineyard Technical Group (SCVTG) is chartering a bus and heading to Foundation Plant Services, UC Davis and the historic Wolfskill Experimental Orchard (lunch included). Free for 2025/2026 SCVTG members ($75 for nonmembers), pre-registration is required HERE. Foundation Plant Services is the hub for disease-tested, clean plant material, and the tour will showcase their new clean plant facility, along with the new greenhouses and screen houses projects.

Itinerary

• 7:00 AM – Meet in Santa Rosa (pickup location TBD)

• 7:15 AM – Buses Depart for Davis

• 9:15 – 10:15 AM – Tour Foundation Plant Services (FPS) – Clean Plant Facility

• 10:30 – 11:30 AM – Tour Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine & Food Science

• 12:15 – 1:45 PM – Lunch (Box Lunch Included) & Tour at Wolfskill Experimental Orchard (Winters, CA)

• 2:00 PM – Depart Wolfskill

• 4:00 PM – Return to Santa Rosa

Tour Stops

Foundation Plant Services (FPS)

📍 455 Hopkins Rd, Davis

Visitor Information:

•FPS is located on UC Davis’ West Campus — not accessible by transit or foot. Our charter bus will bring us directly to the facility.

• Biosecurity: Please avoid vineyards/orchards within 24 hours prior to the tour. If unavoidable, wear clean clothes and shoes.

• Dress Code: Closed-toe shoes and ankle-length clothing are required for safety.

Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine & Food Science

📍 392 Old Davis Rd, Davis

•The Teaching & Research Winery at UC Davis, the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified winery, designed with solar power, water recycling, and natural ventilation, 152 fermentation tanks with cutting-edge sensors for real-time fermentation tracking.

•Plus onsite vineyard blocks. See firsthand how UC Davis integrates vineyard science with winery technology to advance grape and wine research.

Wolfskill Experimental Orchard & Repository

📍 4334 Putah Creek Rd, Winters

•Home to one of the largest public germplasm collections in the world. Our visit will include lunch on-site, followed by a guided tour highlighting the orchard’s genetic resources and research programs.

• ⚠️ Important Notice – Wolfskill Orchard Visit
Wolfskill is a USDA-ARS federal facility.

• Non-US citizens (except Permanent Residents/green card holders) require additional screening before visiting.

•If this applies to you, we need to contact NCGR staff at least 3 weeks in advance for guidance.

Reminders for Attendees

•Please arrive promptly at 7:00 AM; bus departs at 7:15 AM sharp

•Wear clean clothes, not cross contaminated by any outside vineyard visits, and comfortable walking shoes (closed-toe required at FPS)

•Bring your water bottle, notepad, and weather-appropriate clothing

•Lunch will be provided at Wolfskill

👉 Seats are limited — advance registration required.