Â鶹ӳ» Teaching Winery
- Â鶹ӳ» Teaching Winery
- winery@napavalley.edu
About
The Â鶹ӳ» Estate Winery is more than a production facility — 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 Â鶹ӳ» Vintners, Trefethen Family Vineyards, The Wine Spectator, and many other donors have helped Â鶹ӳ» build a premier winery operation. The high-quality wines we produce are a reflection of the community's commitment to education and to Â鶹ӳ».
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 Â鶹ӳ»'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, hosted on campus. Initiated by Professor Paul Wagner and organized by Enoch Shully. Following the successful inaugural launch of the series in the summer of 2024, we are pleased to continue offering these tastings. Every Friday, a guest vintner will showcase their wines, expound upon their winemaking philosophy, and engage in discussions regarding the current challenges and triumphs of the wine industry, all within a classroom setting. This presents a remarkable opportunity to savor exceptional wines while gleaning insights from industry experts.
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 — 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 Â鶹ӳ» 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 — from Chablis to the Mâconnais — 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.
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—all essential for today’s 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—building 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.
