Vinopolis was a London commercial visitor attraction operated by Wineworld London that presents the subject of wine and oenology through exhibits and wine tastings. It was located at Bankside, opened on 23 July 1999 and closed at the end of 2015 [1].
History[]
Vinopolis was developed by the wine merchant Duncan Vaughan-Arbuckle. He chose a site beneath the arches of a Victorian railway viaduct that was built in 1866 by the South-eastern Railway Company to carry an extension line from London Bridge Station over the River Thames to the north bank.
Vinopolis opened on July 23, 1999. Its first program was a four-hour guided tour through static wine displays with tastings. The business evolved over the years, and when it closed, it operated as both a wine tour and a corporate events venue.
Offerings[]
In July 2008, the attraction the "Authentic Caribbean Rum Experience" was opened and allows attendees to sample a selection of Caribbean premium rums
The last range of offerings were put in place in Autumn 2012. The site featured wines from around the world. Three self-guided "experience packages" were offered, called "essential", "classic" and "quintessential". Group packages and group guided tours were also available. The wines were served from wine dispensers to prevent spoilage.
Throughout the year, Vinopolis hosted a range of events featuring wine, spirits and food. These included a selection of monthly "masterclasses" such as:
- "Welcome to wine" (on the first Sunday of each month)
- "Welcome to cheese and wine" (on the second Sunday of each month)
- "Cocktail-making masterclass" (on the first Thursday of each month)
- "Whisky masterclass" (on the third Thursday of each month)
The website was http://www.vinopolis.co.uk/ and the Wikipedia page is [2]. A Southwark Council pdf from 2021 having some coverage of the Vinopolis site is here