Faculty from the University of California, Davis, Department of Viticulture and Enology will travel to France next month to take part in the third joint Burgundy-California-Oregon winemaking symposium. The meeting will be held in Dijon, Burgundy, from Nov. 13-15. The UC Davis delegation will be accompanied by some of the top professional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay winemakers in the state, says UC Davis cooperative extension enologist Christian Butzke, who will co-chair the meeting. Together with fellow academics and enologists from Oregon, they will address an expected audience of 400 international winemakers and scientists at the University of Burgundy. "It's a tremendous opportunity for everybody to learn from each other," says Butzke. The annual symposium aims to foster international exchange, encourage cooperation between researchers and commercial vintners and improve global winemaking expertise, he says. The series alternates between the West Coast of the United States and Burgundy. The UC Davis delegates will bring samples of their wines for tasting and will visit famous wineries and vineyards in the region, such as the Domaine de la Romanée Conti and Maison Louis Latour. The symposium coincides with the 140th annual Hospices de Beaune wine auction. The UC Davis scientists will have the opportunity to taste wines that may reach $30,000 a barrel at the auction. "This is the most exciting time to be there," says Butzke, "and the first opportunity to taste the 2000 vintage in Burgundy." More information is available on the Web at .