Vinopolis :: London, England :: CLOSED

London may not be known for its vineyards, but it is certainly home to its fair share of wine connoisseurs. And since 1999, they had been converging on London’s Thames-side wine extravaganza knows as Vinopolis. Devoted to all things wine, Vinopolis showcased the history of wine and hosted spectacular wine-tasting events.

Vinopolis was located in the center of Bankside near the Tate Modern Museum. It lay east of Southwark Bridge and was minutes from London Bridge. Moreover, it was near Shakespeare’s famed Globe, Borough Market, and Southwark Cathedral. The wine merchant Duncan Vaughan-Arbuckle established Vinopolis beneath the arches of a Victorian viaduct. Since its founding, Vinopolis had become the city’s premier wine-tasting venue.

Vinopolis offered renowned wine tours that allowed guests to taste wines from around the world while learning about the regions that produce the world’s most splendid wines. Guests had the opportunity to sample the wines that seem most appealing to them. Vinopolis offered various wine tours to suit myriad of tastes. It also featured wine-tasting classes and a premier shop, Lathwaites, where bottles of wine were able to be purchased. With its five thousand square feet, Lathwaites was an attraction all its own!

Although Vinopolis was known for its wine-tasting events, it had also become famous for its whiskey, rum, and beer. It was said to have one of the most comprehensive selections of whiskey in the city and its whiskey-tasting events had become very popular with visitors. The complex also boasted the Whiskey Exchange where visitors could shop for whiskey and other spirits like gin, vodka, and tequila. The Whiskey Exchange regularly stocked around one thousand single malt whiskey selections from Ireland, Scotland, America, Canada, Sweden, Holland, and Japan. The Authentic Caribbean Rum Experience allows visitors to learn about the process of making rum and features a sampling of the world’s favorite rum selections.

The extravagant venue also boasts two restaurants—the Cantina Vinopolis and the Wine Wharf Restaurant and Bar. Guests can enjoy a meal along with their favorite spirits after a wine tour or class. The Cantina features Mediterranean-infused dishes while the Wine Wharf treats guests to French brasserie-inspired meals. These dining venues have become popular both Londoners and travelers from abroad.

In short, Vinopolis has become London’s favorite wine and spirit-tasting venue. It hosts some of London’s most popular wine-tasting events and also hosts corporate visits and special group tours. If all of this isn’t fabulous enough, Vinopolis also features a champagne bar, a microbrewery, and hosts absinthe tastings. If only it had an attached hotel, you’d be tempted to live there!

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