2011 olive oils on the shelves

The Olive Center's 2011 oils are in UC Davis Stores.

The Silo and Gunrock extra-virgin blends are made from the campus's own oil, from UC Davis olives, and from donated oil from award-winning California producers.

The center describes the Silo blend as "a balanced, fruity oil with the flavors of ripe olives and bananas, along with floral and nutty notes and a buttery finish," and the Gunrock as "intense," made from Italian and Spanish varietals, producing an herbaceous and grassy blend with cinnamon, nutty and buttery notes, as well as "a strong kick down the stretch."

The oils sells for $12 per bottle (250 mililiters), with proceeds used to support the self-funded Olive Center, which provides research and education to enhance the quality and economic viability of California table olives and olive oil.

The oils are available in the main UC Davis Store, in the Memorial Union, and in four branches: in the South Silo, in the Health Sciences District and in downtown Davis (630 Second St., at F Street), and online.

More campus products: The Good Life Collection

Seasonal Sips for autumn

The first Wednesday of November brings the First Wednesday Wine Flight, offering Seasonal Sips for autumn.

The Nov. 2 wine tasting is another in a series sponsored by the Gunrock Pub and the Vintage Aggies Wine Club. The tastings take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Gunrock Pub (on the south side of the Silo).

Each month’s event includes the tasting of four wines (paired with food), and “terrific deals” on the wines to take home.

Here the monthly themes for the First Wednesday Wine Flights from December through February:

• Dec. 2 — Women Winemakers of California — Is there really a difference between the ways in which women and men approach winemaking? Some studies have shown that women have more taste buds than men. Or does all winemaking come down to talent and hard work, regardless of gender? You be the judge!
• Jan. 4 — Stock Your Cellar — A plethora of wines that you can try and buy in inventory reduction deals.
• Feb. 1 — Valentine Wines — In naming their wines, many winemakers are drawn to romantic clichés. And while this may be a bit kitschy, the romance seems to work for the world’s drink of love.

The cost is $10, and no reservations are needed. To reserve a table, purchase tickets in advance or schedule private tastings, call the Gunrock Pub, (530) 752-6262.

Beeronomics at the RMI

Registration is under way for Beeronomics, a symposium featuring scholars on the economics of beer and brewing. The program also includes a tour of UC Davis' new pilot brewery.

The participants include UC Davis' Charlie Bamforth, the Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences, speaking on the topic: "Beer: People as Much as Pounds and Pesetas."

Other speakers, their affiliations and topics:

• Jo Swinnen, Catholic University Leuven (Belgium) — "The Economics of Beer and Brewing"
• Vic Tremblay, Oregon State University — "Competition and Price Wars in the U.S. Brewing Industry"
• Jill McCluskey, Washington State University — "Substitution Effects Between Mass-Produced and High-End Beers"
• Sara Savastano, University of Rome — "Microbrewing: A Renaissance in Italian Beer Production?"

The half-day symposium is scheduled for Thursday (Nov. 3) in the
Sensory Theater at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. Co-presenters with the institute: Center For Wine Economics, the departments of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and Food Science and Technology, and UC's Agricultural Issues Center.

The fee for Beeronomics: The Economics of Beer and Brewing is $20, including a beer social for participants 21 and older. Registration and more information.