The Pilot Winery allows the Department's students to learn how to operate commercial-scale winery equipment, as well as practice the latest winemaking techniques and procedures.  With a new state-of-the-art facility, students are able to carry out a wide range of research projects with optimum control and precision.

Completed in July 2010, the 12,500 ft Pilot Winery serves as the teaching and research winery for the UC Davis Department of Viticulture & Enology.  In December 2010, the building obtained the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certificate from the US Green Building Council, making it the first winery in the world to achieve this standard.

The winery facility includes the main cellar with 152 200-liter TJ Experimental Fermenters and 14 2,000 liter tanks, three temperature-control rooms, an analytical laboratory and a barrel and bottle storage room.  Experimental fermentation tanks are equipped with automatic temperature and pump-over control, which is connected wirelessly to a computer network in which data is transmitted.

Sustainability was central to every aspect of winery design, optimizing water, power and other resources.  Rainwater capture, processing, and storage allows for water to be recycled throughout all winery operations.  Solar power generation, carbon dioxide sequestration and use of natural light allow the winery to continually function as a carbon neutral building.  Please visit Green RMI for more information on our sustainable facilities.