"Let the Groundbreaking Begin"
Doug Muhleman, Clare Hasler, Dean Neal Van Alfen, Robert Mondavi, State Senator Wesley Chesbro, Margrit Mondavi, Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef

On Thursday, June 23, 2005, the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science (RMI) at UC Davis celebrated the official groundbreaking of the institute's academic building. Esteemed donors, alumni, students, faculty, and staff, as well as university, state, and community dignitaries numbering more than 450 attended this important ceremony.

The ground was turned with giant-sized, specially designed fork, corkscrew, and beer bottle opener. The utensils were created by UC Davis alumnus Troy Corliss specifically for the event. The three pieces were inspired by sketches developed by Margrit Mondavi.

A wine and food sciences technology showcase followed the ceremony in the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. The showcase featured wine tastings, wine and chocolate pairings, a special Anheuser-Busch RMI Groundbreaking label beer, and an array of California-grown produce that celebrated the vision "Enhancing the quality of life through wine and food sciences."

We are now looking forward to the RMI opening in early 2008.