Napa Valley College Unveils Wine Spectator Education Center, Expanding Training for Future Industry Leaders

Napa Valley College marked a significant milestone on September 4 with the official opening of the Wine Spectator Wine Education Center. The new facility, located on the college’s campus just south of downtown Napa, has already begun hosting students, who started classes a week before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The center is designed to train future leaders in the wine industry and represents a major expansion for the college’s Viticulture and Winery Technology (VWT) program.

The nearly 10,000-square-foot building more than doubles the previous classroom and training space available to students. It features two sensory classrooms that can each seat up to 80 students, as well as a laboratory classroom equipped with 28 modern lab stations. Before this expansion, the VWT program faced overcrowding and outdated facilities, with some classes at risk of being standing room only.

During the opening event, guests sampled wines produced by students and toured the new center. Dr. Torence Powell, superintendent and president of Napa Valley College, addressed attendees, emphasizing that the center is more than just a building. He described it as an opportunity for students—many of whom are the first in their families to attend college—to pursue education and careers in Napa Valley’s defining industries. Powell highlighted that the project reflects what can be achieved when vision, generosity, and community support come together.

The Wine Spectator Wine Education Center was made possible in large part by a $10 million donation from the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation in 2021. Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Wine Spectator, announced the gift as part of ongoing efforts to support wine education across the United States. The foundation has contributed more than $30 million over four decades to various wine-related and culinary programs nationwide.

At Napa Valley College, students can earn certificates and degrees in viticulture, winemaking, wine marketing and sales, as well as specialized industry certificates such as winery management and wine laboratory technician. The VWT program enrolls more than 800 students annually, making it one of the largest community college wine programs in the country. Its curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning and attracts a diverse group of students—from recent high school graduates to industry professionals seeking updated skills, retirees, and hobbyists.

The new center is not only a result of philanthropic support from Wine Spectator but also from local contributors like Evelyn Allen. Allen was a longtime student at Napa Valley College who left her estate to support educational initiatives at the institution.

The campus includes a five-acre vineyard—recently replanted thanks to a donation from vintner Darioush Khaledi—and operates a commercial winery that holds the distinction of being the first bonded winery within California’s community college system.

The opening of the Wine Spectator Wine Education Center marks the completion of phase one in a broader plan to upgrade Napa Valley College’s wine and hospitality education facilities. Phase two will see construction of an adjacent Hospitality Training Center, which has already broken ground and is expected to open in early 2026. This new facility will focus on training students in wine marketing, direct-to-consumer sales, wine club management, tourism, and culinary hospitality—skills increasingly in demand across Napa Valley’s tourism-driven economy.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony drew notable figures from Napa’s wine industry, including Genevieve Janssens and Kurtis Ogasawara from Robert Mondavi Winery; consulting winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown; Remi Cohen of Domaine Carneros; and Rebekah Wineburg from Quintessa.

Dr. Douglas Marriott, Senior Dean at Napa Valley College, noted that since partnering with Wine Spectator, the VWT program has continued to evolve with new staff and faculty joining its ranks. He closed the ceremony by encouraging attendees to celebrate not just the new building but also the opportunities it creates for future generations interested in winemaking and hospitality.

With its expanded facilities and strong industry partnerships, Napa Valley College aims to remain at the forefront of wine education in California and beyond.