Vinopolis
Encyclopedia
Vinopolis is a London
commercial visitor attraction operated by Wineworld London that presents the subject of wine
and oenology
through exhibits and wine tasting
s. It is located at Bankside
, to the east of Southwark Bridge
and close to London Bridge
on the south side of the River Thames
. There is an attached restaurant, Cantina Vinopolis, and wine is also available for sale at the attached Lathwaites Wine Store. Vinopolis spans 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) and is devoted to the world of wine, including its history, development and taste.
merchant called Duncan Vaughan-Arbuckle. He chose a site beneath the arches of a Victorian
railway viaduct, which was built in 1866 by the South-eastern Railway Company who wanted to carry an extension line from London Bridge Station over the Thames
to the north bank.
Vinopolis opened on July 23, 1999. It started as a four hour long guided tour through static wine displays with tastings, but the business has evolved over the years and today it runs as both a wine tour and a corporate events venue. Within the complex is a retail spirits shop called the Whisky Exchange, which offers a range of several hundred bottles of whisky and other spirits for sale.
Vinopolis' newest visitor attraction is the Authentic Caribbean Rum Experience, which opened to the public in July 2008. Available as part of Vinopolis' Spirits package, the Rum Experience introduces visitors to the rum production process and allows them to sample a selection of Caribbean premium rums.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
commercial visitor attraction operated by Wineworld London that presents the subject of wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
and oenology
Oenology
Oenology,[p] œnology , or enology is the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking except vine-growing and grape-harvesting, which is a subfield called viticulture. “Viticulture & oenology” is a common designation for training programmes and research centres that include both the...
through exhibits and wine tasting
Wine tasting
Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onwards...
s. It is located at Bankside
Bankside
Bankside is a district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Southwark. Bankside is located on the southern bank of the River Thames, east of Charing Cross, running from a little west of Blackfriars Bridge to just a short distance before London Bridge at St Mary Overie Dock to...
, to the east of Southwark Bridge
Southwark Bridge
Southwark Bridge is an arch bridge for traffic linking Southwark and the City across the River Thames, in London, England. It was designed by Ernest George and Basil Mott. It was built by Sir William Arrol & Co. and opened in 1921...
and close to London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
on the south side of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. There is an attached restaurant, Cantina Vinopolis, and wine is also available for sale at the attached Lathwaites Wine Store. Vinopolis spans 2.5 acres (10,117.2 m²) and is devoted to the world of wine, including its history, development and taste.
History
Vinopolis was developed by a wineWine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
merchant called Duncan Vaughan-Arbuckle. He chose a site beneath the arches of a Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
railway viaduct, which was built in 1866 by the South-eastern Railway Company who wanted to carry an extension line from London Bridge Station over the Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
to the north bank.
Vinopolis opened on July 23, 1999. It started as a four hour long guided tour through static wine displays with tastings, but the business has evolved over the years and today it runs as both a wine tour and a corporate events venue. Within the complex is a retail spirits shop called the Whisky Exchange, which offers a range of several hundred bottles of whisky and other spirits for sale.
Vinopolis' newest visitor attraction is the Authentic Caribbean Rum Experience, which opened to the public in July 2008. Available as part of Vinopolis' Spirits package, the Rum Experience introduces visitors to the rum production process and allows them to sample a selection of Caribbean premium rums.
Vinopolis today
There are four self-guided tours packages available, which offer from five to thirteen wine tastings. Group packages and group guided tours are also available.Sources
- Vinopolis Wine Tasting Tour information from about.com
- Vinopolis history From vinopolis.co.uk
- The Whisky Exchange at Vinopolis From thewhiskyexchange.com
External links
- Vinopolis Homepage - official Vinopolis website.
- Places to visit in London Places to visit in London