Vinopolis London: a great afternoon or evening out learning about and tasting wine and champagne.
The Bombay Sapphire Room and Cocktail Bar
Laithwaite’s Wine Shop at Vinopolis London
The Rum Bar
Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Bar
The start of the experience
Entrance to Vinopolis
I had heard a bit about Vinopolis in London, but had never thought about going there. In my mind it was a place for wither real wine buffs or drunken hen or stag parties. While both of those may be true, it was a very pleasant experience when I went – even for this small time drinker!
This is how they describe themselves on their website: “Experience a world of wine and food on our Wine Tasting Tours and special tasting events. Learn the secrets of wine, beer and spirits in a fun, sociable and modern environment”
“Treat your taste buds to a range of wines; drink beer from the microbrewery, indulge in a Bombay Sapphire cocktail, try Nicolas Feuillatte Champagnes in our Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne bar or even an Authentic Caribbean Rum or whisky tasting in the Still Room. Comprised of themed sections representing the main wine producing regions of the world, the Wine Tour offer a unique opportunity to explore wines and spirits of the world all under on roof, all tour ticket also includes a Bombay Sapphire cocktail in the Bombay Sapphire Blue Room”.
And as the photos hopefully show, it is a very massive, diverse and experiential place. In fact it is incredibly vast complex.
We were given the trip to Vinopolis as an Christmas gift, and what a great few hours it turned out to be.
You can buy various packages including hen and stag dos and special evenings. The various packages give you varying numbers of tickets to try wines, champagne and rum at the different sections and themed areas around the sprawling complex. You also get a Bombay Sapphire cocktail at the end. You start the journey with a talk and demonstration about how to taste wine, and then you are off on your own to explore for as long or as short as you want.
You are also given a tasting notes booklet so you can make a note of the wines you like, and there is a Laithwaite’s store within the complex where you can buy them(or online afterwards). The various sections include: Champagne room, Old world wines room with premium wines as well, Italian section with scooters showing videos of the region on the windscreen, New wines room featuring areas like South Africa, a Rum tasting bar and Whiskey tasting bar. There is also a Whiskey Exchange store and a huge Laithwaites shop. Around the complex are water stations to rinse your glass and drink water too! They sell Tapas in one room. There is also a stunning and very trendy Bombay Sapphire exhibit and cocktail bar.
Of course with the volume of wines you taste, if you swallow you will get a bit merry!
Overall I was really impressed and found it a great few hours.
Link to their site: http://www.vinopolis.co.uk/
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