Hospitality training center with wine tasting bar opens at Napa Valley College

Napa Valley College unveiled the Donna Altes Hospitality Training Center - the second phase of its Wine Education Complex - at a gathering Tuesday, June 2.

The new facility, named for Altes, a Napa Valley College Foundation board member, is meant to expand opportunities for education, training, and career development in the wine industry. The ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday included students, faculty, industry leaders, community members and donors. Speakers included Altes as well as college administrative services Vice President James Reeves, Napa County Board of Supervisors Chair Amber Manfree and Douglas Marriott, the college's senior dean of Career Education and Workforce Development.

Phase one of the Wine Education Complex, funded by a $10 million gift from Wine Spectator magazine, opened in fall 2025, doubling classroom and training space for the college's Viticulture and Winery Technology program. Phase two, supported by a $4 million capital campaign, brings to life a marketing lab that will accommodate new courses within the college's Hospitality Culinary Tourism Management Program. The

According to the college, the specialized training will focus on various aspects of wine marketing, sales and hospitality, including winery food programs, wine club membership, tasting room management, tourism and the role of a winery chef. The center's programming is aimed toward helping students secure entry-level work in wine hospitality, including professional table service, wine sales, and education, and for those seeking professional advancement in the industry.

"The Donna Altes Hospitality Training Center is the fruition of my life's work - a place destined to teach, counsel and guide others through education and opportunity," Altes said Tuesday. "It stands as the legacy I hoped to leave behind and a lasting gift that will continue to inspire, nurture and transform lives for generations to come, long after I have crossed the rainbow bridge."

Additional funding and support for the center was provided by the estate of longtime Napa Valley College supporter Evelyn Allen.

"Evelyn was a big supporter of Napa Valley College. She began taking classes there in 1944 and continued to do so for most of her life," said Pam Elder, an Allen family member. "She was a lifelong learner and was extremely proud of her association with the college. She would be absolutely thrilled to see the completion and opening of this center."

The center includes a classroom and training space, a tasting bar and movable sit-down seating to emulate a variety of hospitality and tasting room scenarios. There's also event space to host industry training, educational events, guest lecturers and wine industry professionals.

"The Napa Valley College Wine Education Complex is one of the most significant projects we've undertaken," said Jessica Thomason, executive director of the Napa Valley College Foundation. "We have been able to complete the project on time, on budget and without public funding, which is rare, especially for a community college. Without the generous gifts from the Wine Spectator, the estate of Evelyn Allen, Donna Altes, and Napa Valley College Foundation board members, alumni and industry partners, the complex would not be possible."

There are still naming recognition opportunities for those who would like to donate to the new facility. For example, the Wine & Hospitality Training Center Terrace can be named after the donor or in honor and memory of another person the donor wishes to recognize.

For more information, see the Wine Education Complex website.

You can reach Staff Writer Elsa Cavazos at elsa.cavazos@pressdemocrat.com.

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 9:58 AM.