Napa Valley College Teaching Winery
- Napa Valley College Teaching Winery
- winery@napavalley.edu
About
The Napa Valley College Estate Winery is more than a production facility 鈥� it is a living classroom set in the heart of one of the world's most celebrated wine regions.
Founded in 2008 as the first winery on a community college campus in California to be fully bonded and licensed to produce and sell wine, the NVC Estate Winery exists for one purpose: to give students a complete, uncompromised experience of the winemaking craft. Every wine we produce is grown on our five-acre estate vineyard and processed in our on-campus cellar. From the first pruning cut to the final label affixed to the bottle, every step is a teaching moment.
The Napa Valley Vintners, Trefethen Family Vineyards, The Wine Spectator, and many other donors have helped Napa Valley College build a premier winery operation. The high-quality wines we produce are a reflection of the community's commitment to education and to Napa Valley College.
The Wine, Food & Hospitality Training Center
The Wine, Food & Hospitality Training Center offers community-based courses and professional development experiences designed for working adults, industry professionals, and anyone curious about Napa Valley's most celebrated industries.
Educational wine tastings, featuring selections from top wineries, led by expert vintners in a classroom setting: NVC Wine Education Center.
We invite you to participate in an ongoing wine-tasting series, bringing guest vintners into the classroom to share their wines, winemaking philosophy, and industry perspectives. Initiated by Professor Paul Wagner and co-organized by Dr. Douglas Marriott (Dean of Career Education & Workforce Development) alongside Katja Loeffelholz, a wine law attorney and co-organizer for Women for WineSense, the series has grown since its summer 2024 launch in the McCarthy Library Community Room. The series has cultivated an engaged community of wine enthusiasts, and we are proud to now host this series in the new Wine Spectator Wine Education Center.
All attendees must be 21 or older to participate in this event. By purchasing tickets, you confirm that you are 21 or older and acknowledge responsibility for complying with all laws and regulations regarding the consumption of alcoholic beverages. A valid ID will be required to participate.
Wines of Burgundy 鈥� A Four-Part Journey with Dan Dawson
Join Dan Dawson, wine instructor, writer, and entrepreneur for an exploration of the vineyards, traditions, and wines shaping Burgundy.
Few wine regions carry the weight of history and reverence quite like Burgundy. Over four Wednesdays this autumn join Napa Valley wine instructor, writer, and entrepreneur Dan Dawson for an exploration of the vineyards, traditions, and wines that have shaped this storied region for centuries.
Dan will guide you region by region 鈥� from Chablis to the M芒connais 鈥� sharing not just what's in the glass, but the land, the classification rules, and the stories behind them. Fresh from his own recent travels through Burgundy, Dan brings a firsthand, current perspective to this deep dive into one of the world's most influential wine regions.
Message in the Bottle: A Guide to Tasting Wine 鈥� with Tim Gaiser & Paul Wagner
NVC Viticulture and Winery Technology instructor instructor Paul Wagner will interview Tim Gaiser, Message in the Bottle: A Guide to Tasting Wine & master sommelier, and explore the topics of blind tasting, food and wine today, and "did that really happen?"
Master Mondays - Tasting Room Sales Success Bootcamp
Master Monday courses are designed for winery professionals looking to sharpen their skills. Enhancing Selling Techniques, connecting with guests, public speaking, and more!
Participants will build skills in communication, hospitality, product knowledge, and closing techniques鈥攁ll essential for today鈥檚 direct-to-consumer wine industry.
Cork Stories: Public Speaking and Presence for Wine Professionals by Kelley Miller (Oct. 5, 2026, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm)
Participants will learn to speak in front of an audience with clarity and authenticity. Public speaking workshops for the wine industry focus primarily on the art of telling a great story to make the people behind a brand memorable. Workshops feature opportunities to practice and play in a supportive, low-stakes environment. Every activity is rooted in a mindset of abundance; each person has a unique voice that helps us connect and broaden our perspective.
Enhancing the Sales Pitch: Effective Selling Techniques for Winery Sales Associates by Sharon Woschitz (Oct. 12, 2026, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm)
This course is designed with winery tasting room educators in mind and focuses on enhancing upselling methods and sales pitch delivery. It is designed to refine the approach of winery tasting room associates, helping them craft compelling and personalized sales pitches that resonate with guests. As wineries increasingly rely on direct-to-consumer sales, tasting room associates play a critical role in revenue generation and brand loyalty. This course provides structured sales training tailored specifically to the wine industry, filling a gap between traditional hospitality education and the specialized needs of winery operations.
Social Media for Wine Professionals by Monika Bielka-Vescovi (Oct. 19, 2026, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm)
Explore how wineries, wine brands, retailers, restaurants and educators can use social media to build authentic connections, strengthen their brand, and grow their audience. Participants will learn platform-specific strategies, create engaging content, understand current algorithms and analytics, and develop practical social media campaigns tailored to the wine industry. The course combines marketing fundamentals with real-world wine business examples, providing actionable skills that can be applied immediately.
Winery Hospitality Essentials for Napa and Beyond by Paul Wagner (Oct. 26, 2026, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm)
Master marketer Paul Wagner will help you maximize every element of your tasting room, from targeting the dollars you spend on attracting visitors just the right visitors, to understanding how to best transform those visitors from tourists and wine lovers to missionaries and evangelists for your wine and winery. This is the short course on the black art of wine marketing鈥攂uilding human connections that will last a generation.
A series of enriching workshops & seminars to grow your knowledge of wine, deepen your understanding of the industry, and fuel your soul.
Upcoming:
Wine and Words
Sunday, October 25, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Dan Evans will interview Paul Wagner about his book set in the Napa Valley, A Murderous Vintage. Select wines will be poured, including wines from Napa Valley College.
All attendees must be 21 or older to participate in this event. By purchasing tickets, you confirm that you are 21 or older and acknowledge responsibility for complying with all laws and regulations regarding the consumption of alcoholic beverages. A valid ID will be required to participate.
A Conversation between Wine and Music: Tasting Notes from Vienna
Sunday, November 8, 12:00 pm - 1:30 at the Performing Arts Center
Join Christina Howell and Paul Wagner as they explore the world of wine and music in Vienna鈥攖he perfect aperitif to the Symphony Tierra concert which follows. Christina and Paul will explore the magical world of Mozart, Martines, Schubert and Beethoven in Vienna, and discuss how the wines of the time influenced these composers and their works. We'll taste a few wines, listen to a few musical excerpts, and tell the stories that bring both the composers and the wines to life. It should be an afternoon of memorable pleasure. Note: This ticket includes complimentary admission to Napa Valley College Performing Arts' Symphony Tierra, Notes from Vienna, Sunday, November 8, 2:00 pm.
Location: Performing Arts Center at Napa Valley College
