Daily Interactive Wine Tastings
at Custom-Built Bars in the Newly Unveiled Wine Hall of Fame
Napa, CA – The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Copia, the ultimate Napa Valley destination for
exploring, experiencing, and enjoying the world of food and wine, is pleased to
introduce its Wine Tasting Showcase—an
interactive and immersive tasting experience featuring a rotating selection of
wineries from the Napa Valley and beyond. The Showcase is located within the
newly installed Wine Hall of Fame. Open daily from noon to 5 p.m., the Tasting Showcase offers visitors a unique
opportunity to taste a selection of wines from six different wineries, all in
one place.
Established in 2007 and
originally housed at the CIA at Greystone, The Wine Hall of Fame moved to CIA at Copia to give broader public recognition to the men and women whose vision and
determination have made the American wine industry what it is today. This free
exhibit in the light-filled atrium consists of bronze bas relief sculptures of
Wine Hall of Fame inductees, along with their biographies.
“The setting for the Wine
Tasting Showcase, within The Wine Hall of Fame, is a beautifully thematic one,”
said Tom Bensel, managing director of the
CIA’s California campus. “What better way to honor the pioneers of the American
wine industry than to taste and learn about wine alongside them.”
The Wine Tasting Showcase
utilizes six custom-built wood bars, designed by local artist Luigi Oldani, that serve as the wineries’ tasting stations. Each
winery offers a selection of wines, and guests can choose which wineries they
want to visit and which wines they’d like to taste, giving them the freedom to
create their own tasting experience—whether it’s comparing varietals,
appellations, or individual wines. Stations are hosted by the wineries’ own
educators so guests can learn about the wines of each individual winery
directly from a winery representative. The collection of wineries will change
every few months.
How It Works
Guests may pick up a Copia Card for wine tasting from The Store at CIA Copia. The card can be loaded to any chosen value and
used at any of the six wine stations to purchase tasting pours, glasses of
wine, or full bottles of wine to be consumed onsite or taken home. Guests may
enjoy their wine at the tasting station, in any of CIA at Copia’s indoor lounges, outside in the gardens, or in the Jackson Family Wines
Amphitheater. The Copia Card can also be used to
purchase items from The Store or to enroll in a class in the Napa Valley
Vintners Theater.
Participating Wineries: July–Oct.
- Grgich Hills Estate (Napa Valley)
- Maroon Wines (Napa Valley)
- Greystone Cellars (California)
- More wineries to be announced soon
Other Activities CIA at Copia
Visitors will find much to do at CIA at Copia,
including shopping, dining, browsing culinary collections, and taking cooking
classes. Curious cooks can choose from a wide array of daily cooking classes,
demos, and guided beverage tastings—all taught by CIA chefs in the 72-seat Napa
Valley Vintners Theater. Shoppers won’t want to miss The Store at CIA Copia, featuring an extensive collection of cookbooks by
CIA faculty, alumni, and guest chefs, as well as artisanal food products,
cookware, glassware, one-of-a-kind pottery, and more. The Restaurant at CIA Copia is a destination for innovative, market-based,
globally inspired, California cuisine that pairs perfectly with Napa Valley
wines and craft cocktails. Throughout the property, guests will find culinary
artifacts, museum collections, and one-of-a-kind sculptures, which are free and
open to the public. In addition, The Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum and a
state-of-the-art teaching kitchen are slated to open in late 2017.
CIA at Copia is also the ideal location for private food and wine events, from an intimate
wedding in the amphitheater to a cocktail reception in the atrium, or an
industry conference that commands the entire building.
About The Wine Hall of Fame
Wine Hall of Fame members are nominated by a panel of wine industry peers, and
final selections are voted upon by an independent group of wine scholars and
journalists, with the annual induction ceremony held at CIA at Copia.
Photo Captions and Hi-Res Images:
Photo 1 (top): The Wine Tasting Showcase at the CIA at Copia features six custom-built wood bars, each serving as
a tasting station for a rotating selection of wineries from the Napa Valley and
beyond. (Photo credit: Adam Padilla/CIA)
View hi-res image >
Photo 2: The Wine Hall of Fame at The Culinary Institute of America
at Copia in Napa, CA. (Photo credit: Victor M. Samuel/CIA)
View hi-res image >
Media Contact:
Adrienne DeAngelo
510-735-9667
adrienne@ellipsespr.com
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world’s premier
culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and
hospitality, the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers bachelor’s degree
majors in management, culinary science, and applied food studies; associate
degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts; and executive education
through its Food Business School. The college also offers certificate programs
and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its conferences and consulting
services have made the CIA the think tank of the food industry, and its
worldwide network of 49,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the
food business. The CIA has campuses in New York, California, Texas, and
Singapore.
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