The Graduate Wine Collective
The Graduate Wine Collective is the Cal Alumni Association’s wine club. Members of the club are introduced to premier wineries and vineyards founded, operated, owned, or managed by UC Berkeley alums. Proceeds from The Graduate Wine Collective support the Cal Alumni Association’s alumni and student programs.
How It Works
Interested in joining our wine club? Sign up and select shipment preferences at thegraduatewinecollective.com.
Club members receive three wine shipments per year, featuring wines hand-selected by UC Berkeley wine experts and aficionados. Each shipment will have other wine-tasting complements, including, but not limited to autographed wine bottles, recipes for dishes that pair well with the wines, and tasting notes.
Wine shipments are sent out in November, February, and May*.
*The arrival of a member’s first shipment will vary depending on when members join in the cycle.
How Wines Are Selected
All wines are selected through a blind tasting by a panel including Cal alums. Visit our alum-owned wineries page for a list of UC Berkeley connected wineries.
Current Shipment
Baldacci Family 2021 Fraternity Red Blend
Thomas Baldacci ’81, owner
Halleck 2019 Hillside Cuvée Pinot Noir
Harris Miner ’20, MBA, director of sales
Elizabeth Spencer 2022 North Coast Sauvignon Blanc
Lisa Heisinger ’07, Boisset Collection CEO
Couch Family 2019 Woz Chardonnay
John Couch ’70, founder and owner
Ready to Find Wines as Unique as Your Own Cal Experience?
Join our wine club and receive three wine shipments per year, featuring wines hand-selected by UC Berkeley wine experts and aficionados.
Previous Shipment
Bruliam 2020 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
Brian Overstreet ’08 and Keirth Overstreet, co-founders and co-owners
Gundlach Bundschu 2021 Cabernet Malbec Blend
Jim Bundschu ’66, director of viticulture and owner
Caleb Leisure 2021 Obelus
Caleb Leisure ’04, founder and owner
Four Brothers 2019 Chardonnay
Patrick Sullivan ’94, manager
UC Berkeley’s Alumni-Owned Wineries
UC Berkeley alumni are making their mark on the winemaking business in Napa Valley, Sonoma, and beyond. Here’s a list of wineries and vineyards founded, operated, owned, or managed by UC Berkeley alumni.
Upcoming Alumni Events
Cal Alumni in the Wine Industry
Bears in Business: Giorgio Tavecchio
In 2008, Giorgio Tavecchio ’12 walked onto the Cal football team. Years later, his UC Berkeley experience still shapes his careers both as an NFL placekicker and winemaker.
Bears in Business: Jason Mikami ’92, MBA
Uber director and vineyard business manager Jason Mikami ’92, MBA, considers UC Berkeley the best entrepreneurial training ground.
Bears in Business: Stuart Smith ’70
The award-winning Smith-Madrone co-founder discusses the ways his Cal experience at UC Berkeley influenced his decision to enter the wine industry and shaped his business practices.
Our Partners
