Centers and Museums
Going to centers and museums devoted to wine can afford many learning opportunities. You can learn about the history of wine production to taking a one hour class on wine and food pairings. These centers and museums are different sizes. The Museo del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano in Italy was the smallest museum while COPIA in Napa was the largest center.
The New York Wine and Culinary Center is located in Canandaigua, New York. The NYWCC offers visitors information about New York wine production, agriculture, opportunities to cook and an educational theater. Be sure to leave time for a stop at the restaurant on the second floor. The wine flights were the best organized wine flights we've had in our travels.
Copia in Napa, California is a wine tasting center for the appreciation of world wines. Julia's Kitchen serves lunch, dinners and more. Copia is wine and food learning center. Daily food classes are offered. Tour the facility as well as the gardens with vegetables, grapes and orange trees.
Vinopolis in London, England features the history of wine from the beginning in Georgia to todays wines. The unusual architecture of the building with its high brick arches were built under the railroad system. You will have an opportunity to taste wines from around the world including lesser known wine regions.
A visit to Pleasant Valley (Hammondsport, New York) is must if you are in the Finger Lakes region of New York. A large tasting bar with a museum on the other side of the large room has subdued lighting adding to the sophistication of wine. Allow at least an hour to tour the museum.
The Greyton H. Taylor museum is located in Hammondsport, New York in a seperate building on the Bully Hill Vineyards site. A visitor can view many artifacts used in cooperage, wine making, prohibition and glassware. Attached to this museum is the Walter S. Taylor art gallery. Allow one to two hours for a visit to both buildings.
The Museo del Vino Vernaccia di San Gimignano is a small museum within the walled city of San Gimignano in Italy. The museum is devoted to the history and production of Vernaccia, a local white grape that has been grown in the area since the 13th century.
