Napa, California, May 17, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Napa Valley University today held a special ceremony attended by students, faculty, and area dignitaries, following the groundbreaking of the Wine Spectator Wine Education Center.
This is the first of two phases to build the Napa Valley University Wine Education Complex, which will more than double classroom and training space with 10,000 square feet of modern, efficient learning space .
The complex provides education and employment in wine growing and winemaking, as well as wine marketing and sales. The new facility will also support the university's new Food & Wine Pathways program, offering complementary degree programs in Viticulture and Winery Technology (VWT) and Hospitality Culinary Tourism Management (HCTM).
“Our new Winery Chef qualification will respond to growing trends in the industry by combining wine and hospitality skills with the complementary degrees the industry is seeking for the direct-to-consumer market.” said Dr. Torrence Powell, Director and President. Napa Valley University “This complex will help meet local and international needs.”
For example, in Napa County, the hospitality industry is expected to experience the highest growth in the coming years, creating a total of 2,272 new jobs by 2028.
Phase 1: Wine Spectator Wine Education Center
The first phase of the complex, the Wine Spectator Wine Education Center, is fully funded by a generous $10 million Wine Spectator Lead Gift from the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation and additional funding from the estate of University benefactor Evelyn Allen. Masu.
Complementing the university's Napa Valley Vintners Teaching Winery and Vineyard, the center will feature two flexible sensory classrooms seating up to 80 students at a time and 28 experimental stations. This includes upgrades to the existing Trefethen laboratory classrooms.
The Wine Spectator Wine Education Center offers degrees in viticulture, winemaking, and wine marketing and sales, including winery management and operations, vineyard management, vineyard pest inspector, viticulture operations, and wine testing techniques. We also offer multiple industry certifications, including:
“The rich educational opportunities offered through the Wine Spectator Wine Education Center allow students to develop a wide range of wine-related skills through a variety of educational programs and degrees designed to advance their careers. ” said editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken. wine spectator. “We are excited to support this important need for both Napa Valley University and the wine industry.”
Phase II: Wine and Hospitality Training Center
Today's groundbreaking ceremony also officially launched a fundraising campaign to raise $4 million for the second phase of the Wine Education Center complex, a wine and hospitality training center.
The center is flexible to provide training in all aspects of wine marketing, sales and hospitality, including winery food programs, direct-to-consumer sales, wine club memberships, tasting room management, tourism, and wine culinary training. It becomes a space.
It includes a demonstration kitchen to provide hands-on training to students, a tasting bar and movable seating to emulate various hospitality and tasting room scenarios, industry training, educational events, and guest lecturers. and event space to host events. Wine industry professionals.
“The Napa Valley University Wine and Hospitality Training Center provides the right facilities for students to acquire the critical skills needed in today's competitive job market,” said Michael, Napa Valley University Foundation Board Member and Capital Campaign Chair.・Mr. Baldacci said.
background
Napa Valley University is uniquely positioned to offer a broad range of wine education, with a consistently over 80% placement rate from its Viticulture and Winery Technology (VWT) program.
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The VWT program offers viticulture, winemaking, and wine marketing and sales programs and awards certificates and associate of science degrees.
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The program includes more than 30 certificate classes with credits that transfer to national and international four-year degree programs.
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The university's Napa Valley Vintners Teaching Winery is the first bonded winery in California's community college system.
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Napa Valley College, one of the few community colleges in California that offers on-campus residence halls, will open in August 2024.
For more information about the Napa Valley College Foundation, Wine Spectator Wine Education Center, and Wine and Hospitality Training Center, visit http://napavalley.edu/about/napa-valley-college-foundation.
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contact address
Fuller & Sander Communications
Tom Fuller, tom@fullerandsander.com, 707-486-8968
Monty Sander, monty@fullerandsander.com, 707-480-8635
Napa Valley University
Rod Aubrey, rodd.aubrey@napavalley.edu
