Whilst walking around its 20 dramatically themed rooms, step into the wine connoisseurs world and enjoy a personal audio-guide in six languages as well as five free tastings from over 200 hundred selected wines. In addition to this, there are also two restaurants, a wine accessories shop as well as an enormous wine store and three banqueting venues. Last entry is two hours before closing.
The corporate money driven not 'done for the love of it' atmosphere really shines through here. Yes you're given wine to taste, and yes its quite pleasant moving from Shiraz, through Merlot, with an empty glass to fill and re-fill at your leisure, but there lacks passion and any real depth of knowledge about the grapes or even how to taste. Not that 'taste' was the order of the day, more appropriate in this setting was the drink to get drunk quick style of wine tasting.
The so called 'champagne package' our party had opted for was not that exciting, and it is never a good sign if your knowledge is superior to your that of your supposed tour guide. Nor that this particular tour had the edifying experience of a corked bottle. YUK.
For real wine saviness I would avoid this particular 'world of wine'. But if your task is to 'get drunk' and drink as much as you like, then Vinopolis offers much for the less than discerning drinker, and much for the drunker 'consumer'.
Been there twice in 2007. First, the wine tour. Collect a glass and wend your way through a small museum of winemaking, visiting tasting tables along the way. All but the serious wine buffs will learn something from the exhibitions, but the tastings are pretty ropey, to be honest. The wine is mostly mediocre, and the staff are mixed too. Some are friendly and keen to chat about the wine, others seem to view you as an irritant. During our visit we tasted a wine that was was really, really badly corked and the girl basically told us we were stupid for thinking that the 'vegetal' character of the Shiraz was a problem (vegetal shiraz.. riight.)
Another bizarre aspect of the tour is that halfway through you're transported into an electric blue bar where you get a free gin cocktail. Yeah, ideal for a wine tasting.
The second visit was more successful - a group of us were actually accompanied through the tour by a personal guide, who was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The wine was better quality, too. That was followed by a meal for about twenty in the Cantina. Reasonable food in a nice airy venue, with good beer and wine. I can't comment on value for money since it was a pre-paid thing.
A mixed bag - splash out on the guided tour and you'll have a good time. Limit yourself to the self-guided tour and you'll probably feel a bit short changed.
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