American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts - Napa, California - Center Now Closed

Opened in November 2001, the American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts (COPIA) was a "discovery center'' whose mission was "to explore, celebrate and share the many pleasures and benefits of wine, its relationship to food and its significance to our culture.'' It was the brainchild of vintner Robert Mondavi, who acquired the land, put up $20 million, and attracted 70 key supporters to create this major not-for-profit cultural institution, paying tribute to American achievements in the areas of winemaking, culinary expertise, and visual arts.

For seven years, the center offered educational programs, art displays, wine tastings, cooking classes, and special events at its location in downtown Napa. It also hosted a museum gift shop, a wine club, and a retail wine store.

Within its 13,000 square feet of gallery space, COPIA conducted exhibitions of art history and culinary science. It had a 260-seat theater for films and lectures. There was a library filled with rare books, too, as well as classrooms equipped with a range of audio-visual capabilities.

Lessons could also be taught in the center's 74-seat demonstration kitchen. A 700-seat outdoor terrace was available for concerts and other functions. Julia's Kitchen, a gourmet dining room named for honorary trustee Julia Child, served gourmet meals, and there was a tasting table offering a wide assortment of wines from across the country.

Some three and a half acres of gardens were cultivated for growing organic produce and providing hands-on education to visitors about farming, soils, and viticulture. There was never any trouble finding parking in the center's two lots with 341 parking spaces, perhaps a sign of how poorly the non-profit was doing financially.

By 2008, with a debt totaling $78 million and its property valued at $30 million, COPIA was failing. In September of that year, two dozen of the center's 85 employees were laid off. The days of operation were subsequently reduced to just three per week. Then, in November, the center closed abruptly and filed for bankruptcy. It has not reopened since.

In early 2009, an unnamed developer showed interest in purchasing COPIA for $37 million, but the deal eventually fell through. In March of that year, the property was appraised at $24,860,000. Local developer George Altamura was reportedly eyeing the land and facilities in May, but by October, representatives for ACA Financial Guaranty Corporation listed the former COPIA site as available for lease or purchase.

What remains of the American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts is located in downtown Napa on the Napa River at 500 First Street, Napa, California 94559. The phone lines have been disconnected.