ArchivesCIA at Copia Archives - Tour Vin
Tour Vin – The Valuable Insight of CIA at Copia
Published on: April 29th, 2025
The next time you are in Napa Valley, check out CIA at Copia. The venue offers insight into the history of food and wine in California, as well as activities that you can’t enjoy anywhere else in one space!
Visitors first experience the amazing gardens of herbs, fruits and vegetables, which showcase the essence of California’s culinary reputation. Walk inside the venue and explore the amazing kitchens where CIA Chefs hold cooking classes, or relax in the self-service wine bar, eat lunch at the Lunch Box and shop at the Marketplace at Copia.
For dinner, check out The Grove restaurant. And, on your way out, check out the Culinary Arts Museum and the display of historic vintage classic wines!
This is a great time to visit Wine Country, so be sure to plan your vacation as soon as possible. Contact us to help plan your next trip to Napa or Sonoma.
Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge
Tour Vin – Wine Country and Corporate Team Building Events
Published on: November 27th, 2023
As the new year approaches, many companies are planning offsite team building programs and social events. Wine Country is the perfect place to build relationships and share potential new business strategies with the team all while surrounded by the beauty of the vineyards.
Tour Vin can help plan an entire corporate event that suits your needs as they relate to accommodations, outside team building events, socializing over a wonderful dinner and, of course, private wine tastings at your favorite wineries.
One team building event we are highlighting this month is a private cooking class at CIA at Copia (The Culinary Institute of America at Copia) located in Napa. The group works together to create a wonderful meal to be shared by all at this amazing venue.
Tour Vin took a similar class with a group of six people and you would be amazed on the bonding that takes place! The benefits of this type of hands-on event, beside the great food, include relationship building, as well as creative stimulus and time management skills outside of the office environment.
It takes time to create a special corporate event that meets the needs of your company. Contact us help plan your 2024 offsite corporate program!
Happy Holidays!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge
Tour Vin – Revisiting CIA at Copia
Published on: September 26th, 2023
Tour Vin just revisited CIA at Copia (The Culinary Institute of America at COPIA). Located adjacent to the Oxbow Public Market in downtown Napa, these folks offer wine tasting, food, wedding space, cooking classes and, of course, shopping.
Venues within CIA include:
The Grove at Copia (dinner and weekend brunch)
Lunch Box at Copia (lunch takeout)
Wine Bar at Copia (self-serve wine bar)
The Haven Cocktail Bar (open Friday and Saturday evenings)
Private Cooking Classes
Check out our photos – this place is exceptional and has something for everyone. Not to mention, you can also sip wine from the Wine Bar while you’re anywhere on the Copia property, including outside!
Contact us to help plan your next trip to Wine Country. Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Wine Country Concierge
Tour Vin
Tour Vin – Harvest Season Is Upon Us!
Published on: August 30th, 2023
Harvest season has begun in Wine Country and there are many fun events available to all visitors you don’t want to miss! Here are just a few events you should consider on your trip between now and November:
September 10: Calistoga Harvest Table – A 1,000-foot table in the middle of the main drag ready to offer a food and wine extravaganza!
September 16: V. Sattui’s Annual Harvest Ball – Entertainment, food and wine.
September 24: Merryvale Vineyards Annual Harvest Party – BBQ menu, games, and of course wines.
October 1: Cliff Lede Harvest BBQ – Memphis-style BBQ with wonderful wines.
October 28: Howell Mountain Harvest Celebration at The CIA at Copia – More than 30 Howell Mountain wineries, plus gourmet small bites!
This is a very busy time of year in Napa and Sonoma, so don’t wait to plan your upcoming Wine Country trip! We are here to help you navigate through all the available options.
Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge
Tour Vin – A Visit to CIA at Copia is a Must
Published on: February 26th, 2020
On your next trip to Napa Valley, we recommend a visit to The CIA at Copia in downtown Napa. This amazing venue, an extension of the CIA Culinary College in St. Helena, offers dining at amazing restaurants, hands-on cooking classes, special tasting events, a self-guided tour of a culinary arts museum and special space for that special party or wedding. Looking for space for a corporate event? This is the perfect place to enjoy food, wine and conversation.
Ever hear of Guest Chef Pop-Ups? Well, listen to this: Every Monday night features a different chef offering various cuisines and guests have the opportunity to watch the chef prepare an excellent meal in the Hestan Kitchen!
On March 23, the CIA will offer a Ramen Pop-Up, featuring guest-chef Rodrigo Vazquez. And, it’s the perfect time of year for a big bowl of Ramen. If you are in Napa on March 30, be sure to stop in and sign up for The Brazil Project Pop-Up and enjoy small bites and classic Brazilian dishes.
Perhaps you prefer a traditional restaurant setup, and here are a few to enjoy:
- The Restaurant at CIA Copia (indoor or outdoor)
- Grove (for a relaxed outdoor space)
- Contimo Provisions (the perfect stop for a quick, fresh bite, prepared daily)
Let us know how we can help plan your next trip to the Napa Valley. Spring time in the wine country is beautiful and you shouldn’t miss out!
Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge
Tour Vin – Fall Festivities Abound in Napa Valley
Published on: October 31st, 2019
Over the next couple of months, Napa Valley has scheduled some incredible wine and food events that you don’t want to miss – wine release parties, winemaker dinners, farmers markets and annual events like Cabernet Season. In fact, we at Tour Vin will be in Napa in November enjoying all the valley has to offer.
Here are a few activities to consider when planning your next trip.
- November 7-10: The famous Blood, Sweat and Tears Band at the Blue Note Napa. A wonderful music, food and wine event.
- November 9, recurring weekly on Saturdays: Calistoga Farmers’ Market. Enjoy fresh seafood, breakfast treats and locally grown produce.
- Recurring weekly on November Fridays and Saturdays: Live music at The Grove, CIA at Copia. Excellent food, wine and cocktails.
- November 13-17: Napa Valley Film Festival featuring a blend of art, film, food and wine.
- November 20-22: 2019 Napa Open Golf Tournament at the Silverado Resort and Spa.
- November 24-January 1: Holidays in Yountville. The town lights it up for visitors as they stroll through the town enjoying music, food and libations. Activities include carriage rides, movies, photos with Santa and of course Nutcracker performances.
- November 30: Napa’s Christmas Parade through downtown Napa. Santa will be there!
- December 7: The Calistoga Tractor Parade Party. Special wines and food bites will be available to purchase while enjoying this fun Christmas event.
Contact us to ensure you don’t miss out – reservations are required for some of these fabulous activities.
Happy Thanksgiving to all – cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge
Tour Vin – Culinary History in Napa
Published on: August 29th, 2019
There are many fun and interesting venues to visit in Napa Valley that do not include wineries, restaurants, golf or hot air balloon rides. We stopped by The CIA at Copia during our last visit to check out a bit of Napa Valley history and learn about its pioneers. We walked through the incredible cooking school and ate at their restaurant, and also stopped by the amazing Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum.
This one of a kind museum features culinary masterpieces and artifacts used by popular chefs from around the world. Over the years, these culinary tools were collected by CIA, some of which were used 100s of years ago. The exhibits are unique and reflect what was available to chefs to create their culinary specialties throughout the ages. Check out these photos:
The next time you are in Napa Valley stop by CIA at Copia, roam around and check out this wonderful display of history!
Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge
Tour Vin – Napa Valley Holiday Events
Published on: November 29th, 2018
The Harvest is over, wines are in tanks or barrels, and now Napa Valley is getting ready for the holidays! There are many events planned throughout the holiday season that can be enjoyed by the entire family that you don’t want to miss. Here are a few to consider:
- Holiday Light Trolley Tours – For three weekends in December, the entire family can hop aboard a light-decorated trolley and tour Downtown Napa and its Victorian neighborhood. The cable car will take visitors on a fun ride complete with classic holiday music and spirit! Guests can also enjoy great food at the Oxbow Public Market and CIA at Copia.
- Ice Skating with Santa Claus – The city of St. Helena presents their inaugural event – St. Helena Jingle All the Way – at local Lyman Park. The entire family will enjoy food served from gourmet food trucks, music, wine, holiday festivities and a visit by Santa!
- Twelve Days of Christmas – Beginning December 7, the famous restaurant at Meadowood Napa Valley will host the Twelve Days of Christmas featuring exquisite cuisine prepared by world famous chefs for all to enjoy. Reservations are a must as this event sells out very quickly!
- Holidays in Yountville – Between November 19 and January 1, the town of Yountville hosts the annual Holidays in Yountville events, which are a “must visit” for all visitors in Napa Valley. This year’s calendar features carriage rides through the town coupled with holiday music, holiday movies, photo opportunities with Santa, Nutcracker performances and a Broadway play. Don’t forget, there are also many wine tasting rooms throughout town and excellent restaurants offering your favorite cuisine!
Christmas is a great time to visit Napa Valley, so contact us to help plan your trip. Happy Holidays!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge
Tour Vin – The CIA at Copia
Published on: September 27th, 2018
We just returned from a week-long trip in Napa Valley where we revisited The CIA at Copia. This culinary space has become a popular go-to for guests who want to enjoy great food and wine tasting, as well as participate in cooking and wine pairing classes. Originally planned by Robert and Margrit Mondavi and Julia Child, The Culinary Institute of America at Copia had its grand reopening in 2016 after an eight-year closure.
We were quite impressed with the new venue.
Surrounded by beautiful vegetable gardens, comfortable outdoor seating and casual eateries for breakfast or lunch, the CIA is the perfect place for weddings and corporate events. For lunch, we stopped in at Contimo Provisions and ordered delicious sandwiches and salads made fresh on the spot with ingredients from local purveyors. If a more formal dining experience is to your liking, the food and ambiance at The Restaurant at CIA Copia is exquisite, and indoor and outdoor seating is available.
After lunch, we went upstairs to check out the CIA kitchen, which is known as the Hestan Teaching Kitchen (check out the photo). Interactive cooking classes, as well as basic food and wine pairing classes and baking classes, are offered here. We were amazed at this state-of-the-art facility and you will be, too!
A highlight of our Napa wine tasting experience was at K. LAZ at Copia. Their mantra is: We make the inaccessible available just for you. It’s the only place in the valley that I know of where you can taste elusive and highly-coveted wines, including Hundred Acre, The Maiden (Harlan), Bond, Keever, Second Flight (Screaming Eagle), O’Shaugnnessy, Keplinger, Realm, Pulido-Walker and Rudd, all in one place. Reservations are required for this experience.
Please contact us for more information on this wonderful venue and its offerings – you won’t be disappointed!
Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge
Tour Vin – Napa Valley Winter Fun
Published on: December 28th, 2017
The hustle and bustle of activity in Napa Valley doesn’t slow during the winter months. In fact, events with focus upon wine tastings, excellent food and music abound. There is, no doubt, something for everyone – take a look at what’s in store for you!
- Calistoga Winter in the Wineries, December 2, 2017 – February 4, 2018. Offering special Winery Passports, 17 Calistoga wineries present passport holders with complimentary wine tasting flights. Some participating wineries include Castello di Amorosa, Bennett Lane Winery, Madrigal Family Winery, Chateau Montelena, Sterling Vineyards, Tamber Bey and Strasser & Lava Vine Winery.
- Napa Truffle Festival, January 12-15, 2018. Where else can you purchase all the fresh black truffles you want? Local restaurants will be offering special truffle menus, hands-on black truffle cooking workshops, a special winter feast at CIA at Copia, and free admission to the Oxbow Public Market so you can browse and purchase a la carte truffle fare.
- Napa Valley Restaurant Week, January 21-28. This event is a great opportunity to dine at restaurants throughout the Valley at remarkably low prices! Multi-course, prix fixe menus will be offered for lunch ($20) and for dinner ($35-$46). Participating restaurants include Auberge du Soleil, The Grill at Silverado Resort, The Restaurant at CIA Copia, Brasswood Bar & Kitchen, Solbar at Solage Calistoga, Torc and Charlie Palmer Steak Napa.
- Yountville Live, March 15-18, 2018. This four-day event is a celebration of food, music and wine, and features acclaimed musicians, award-winning chefs, and, of course, Napa Valley’s finest wines. Some scheduled activities include:
- The Grand Tasting, which includes 100 food and wine tastings
- Grand Cru Wine Tasting in the VIP tent
- The Grand Tasting Experience, which allows access to the chef demonstration stage
Yes, winter is an excellent time to visit the Valley. Contact us today to help plan your next trip!
Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
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