Wine Education Complex
Wine Education Complex
A Journey Forward
A Journey Forward
The Wine Education Complex is a two-phase project. Phase One has been generously funded by The Wine Spectator and will more than double the current facilities for the wine and viticulture programs. Phase Two, The Wine and Hospitality Training Center, will provide a significant upgrade and addition to traditional classroom space, offering facilities to accommodate new courses within the College’s Hospitality Culinary Tourism Management Program (HCTM). Groundbreaking on phase one will begin in Spring of 2024, and we’re incredibly excited to continue our campaign of raising the additional four million needed for completion of Phase Two.
Phase I:
The Wine Spectator Wine Education Center
This 7,000 square foot classroom building will consist of two flexible sensory classrooms that can be combined to seat up to 80 students at a time, and a laboratory classroom with 28 lab stations designed to give students hands-on experience with wine laboratory practices. The sensory classrooms will be the largest classrooms on campus, designed to incorporate the latest technologies in acoustic and lighting design to provide an immersive, experiential appreciation of wine.
Phase I
FULLY FUNDED
by the $10 million Wine Spectator Wine Education Center gift.
“If ever there was an educational institution poised for significant contributions to the growth of the California wine industry, this is it.”
– Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Wine Spectator
Phase II:
A Wine and Hospitality Training Center
The Wine and Hospitality Training Center will provide training in all aspects of wine marketing, sales, and hospitality, including winery food programs, wine club membership, tasting room management, tourism, and the role of a winery chef.
Job placement rates in the College’s wine program consistently exceed 80%.
Many in the wine and tourism sectors in Napa Valley have expressed a pressing need for highly trained hospitality staff for their tasting rooms, visitor centers, hotels and restaurants. The entire focus of this new facility will be in addressing those concerns and meeting that need. From the basics of wine and food knowledge to professional level customer service, this new facility gives us the opportunity to offer both the classes and hands-on, practical experience needed to create these world-class employees of the future.
Utilized as a “Marketing Lab” the flexible space and training facility will provide:
- Classroom and training space for the College’s food and wine programs.
- A demonstration kitchen to provide hands-on training for students.
- A tasting bar and movable sit-down seating to emulate a variety of hospitality and tasting room scenarios.
- Event space to host industry trainings, educational events, guest lecturers and wine industry professionals.
Expanding our Wine and Food Pathway
The Wine and Food Pathway helps students build extensive skills through successive certificate and degree options. Courses provide opportunities for students to enhance their careers through multiple degree tracks focused on wine education, food and wine pairing, hospitality training and the cultural appreciation of wine. The Wine and Hospitality Training Center will be the hub for this expanded pathway program, centrally located within the wine program facilities on Napa Valley College’s main campus.
Culinary
Arts
This fast-paced six-month intensive program follows a curriculum designed to teach culinary techniques required to be a successful professional fine-dining chef.
Hospitality Management
Designed to expose students to the fun- damentals of the hospitality industry, the second largest employer in the Napa Valley.
Viticulture and Winery Technology
Based on a core curriculum of viticulture, winemaking, and wine marketing courses, students are prepared for entry-level positions and opportunities to advance their careers.
Napa Valley College Students
– Work within the industry every day, taking evening classes to improve their skills and advance their careers.
– Are English Language Learners (ELL) who receive training and career advancement services.
– Are second and third generation farm and cellar workers, often the first in their families to earn a college degree.
“The wine program at Napa Valley College is ground zero for hands on experience to those looking to further their education in the wine industry. Students leave the program ready to work in the wine industry.”
“Napa Valley College is a vital resource for our community, providing students with job-ready skills by receiving a high-quality, accessible, and affordable education. I’ve been lucky to be a guest lecturer in the wine marketing program class and have seen first- hand the quality of education these students receive.”
“The wine program at Napa Valley College is an invaluable resource both to students and to the wine industry. With its schedule of evening classes, the program is accessible for students currently employed in wineries. The program’s remarkable job placement record ensures successful employment and a thriving, growing wine- producing community.”
“Napa Valley College’s wine program is a hidden gem in our valley and yet crucial to so many of us in the wine industry. The program provides a learning environment where students can work within the industry while taking classes. The positive impact that the College makes in our wine industry is immeasurable.”
PARTNER WITH US
Naming Recognition Opportunities
The following limited naming opportunities are available and can be named in recognition of the donor or in honor and memory of another person the donor wishes to recognize:
The Founders Circle
The Founders Circle is a group of visionary donors who support the Campaign for Napa Valley College’s Wine & Hospitality Training Center with a one-time, transformational gift of $25,000 or more. In addition to the limited recognition locations listed above, all other Founders Circle gifts will be prominently recognized on the Donor Recognition Display located in the Training Center Atrium area.
Gifts of all sizes are welcomed and will be recognized on the donor recognition display.
For more information on opportunities please contact:
Jessica Thomason
[email protected]
(707) 256-7509
