St. Helena, Calif.
Walker Warner Architects

Photography © Richard Barnes Photography

Natural beauty and flexibility distinguish this winery

Architect Walker Warner Architects www.walker-warner.com Client Huneeus Vintners Key players Stone Interiors (interiors); Lutsko Associates (landscape); Cello & Maudru Construction (general contractor) Read more Building Types Study - Wineries [May 2003]

After years of transporting his grapes off-site for crushing, fermentation, and bottling, the owner of this vineyard estate wished to build a full-service production and visitor center that would maximize production efficiency, enhance sales and marketing, and reinforce the quality of the wine produced. The team of owner, winemaker, and architect worked closely to develop a master plan. They created a building design sympathetic to the Napa Valley location and flexible enough to accommodate changes in production capacity and winemaking techniques. The result is a facility that successfully integrates landscape, architecture, and winemaking. The building is nestled into a natural hillside, its elegant semicircular shape reflecting the existing contours of the terrain. The design illustrates how gravity can be used as a tool in the winemaking process. Grapes are brought to an upper "crush terrace," then funneled through roof hatches into fermentation barrels below. Visitors are allowed to witness the entire winemaking procedure, starting in the excavated wine cave and finishing in the tasting room and wine library.

For more images please see the November 2004 issue or Architectural Record.
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