Foodies, wine and beverage industry professionals, and academics will explore the history and modern appreciation of Chinese alcoholic beverages, or "jiu," at a daylong conference at UC Davis on March 26.

"Understanding Jiu: The History and Culture of Alcoholic Beverages in China" is organized by the Confucius Institute at UC Davis and open to the public.

About 10 sessions will cover the oldest archaeological data to the current explosion of interest in quality grape wine. Among the sessions:

• Patrick E. McGovern, scientific director of the Biomolecular Archaeology Laboratory for Cuisine, Fermented Beverages and Health at the University of Pennsylvania Museum in Philadelphia, will speak on “Uncorking the Past: The Quest for China's Ancient Fermented Beverages”;
• Cecilia Chang, former owner of the Mandarin Restaurant in San Francisco, will offer a personal perspective on current drinking practices; and
• Darrell Corti of Corti Brothers, specialty food and wine merchants in Sacramento, will lead a panel discussion with the audience.

View the complete program.

The symposium, to be held at the Sensory Theater at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, will be followed by a wide-ranging tasting of Chinese jiu, a tour of the RMI Teaching and Research Winery, and a Chinese-inspired gala dinner. The dinner will feature a keynote address on marketing wine to China.

Early bird tickets are $25 for the symposium; $75 for the gala dinner, tour and tasting; or $85 for both. Fees increase on March 12. Register online.

The event is sponsored by China's Jiangnan University, the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, the Robert Mondavi Institute, and East Asian Languages and Cultures at UC Davis, as well as the Wine Institute, an advocacy group for the California wine industry.

About the Confucius Institute at UC Davis

The Confucius Institute at UC Davis combines signature strengths of UC Davis and Jiangnan University as world leaders in food and beverage science and technology to promote understanding of Chinese food and beverage culture. The institute offers workshops, lectures and cultural events for the campus and the public.