commentSouthbrook Vineyards
BusinessWeek/Architectural Record Awards Citation
Wineries tend to appear in groups, a flock slowly emerging in an area conducive to grapes and tourists. The area surrounding Niagara-on-the-Lake, a quaint town in Southern Ontario, has 21 such establishments. To distinguish itself from the pack, Southbrook Vineyards, a new organic winery located at the border of this district, turned to Toronto-based Diamond and Schmitt architects for help. “All of these wineries were in competition with one another, and they often try to be novel or extreme,” says A.J. Diamond, partner of the firm. “Consistent with Soutbrook’s organic approach, we wanted to have something that would sit lightly on the landscape.”
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In this case, “lightly” is not synonymous with “quietly.” A 650-foot long, 10-foot-high blue wall sits at the entrance to the winery, a grand gesture that announces Southbrook and also acts as a gateway to the viticultural district. Behind it, a minimal 8,000 square-foot glass pavilion with a floating roof looks out toward a 150-acre vineyard, while providing ample space for a café, tasting area, retail functions, meeting rooms, and offices. An existing barn a few hundred feet away was renovated and expanded to accommodate the technical requirements of wine production. Both structures were subject to exacting sustainable standards: natural lighting, wastewater treatment, and energy conservation efforts all contributed to the building’s LEED Gold rating.
The building itself, opened in 2008, has become a major draw—an architectural tour last fall drew more than 500 people and was the highest grossing retail event to date. Sales have risen with production capability, while energy costs have been kept low. “I think I’ve rarely had such happy clients,” says Diamond. “One of the competing vineyards owners said to me, ‘you guys have just knocked everyone flat, this is the benchmark place now.’”
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