project

The parcel for this project is a hidden gem in between the towns of St. Helena and Calistoga, set just north of the valley’s narrowest point, where the valley begins to open up and widen. The site is idyllic, bordered by vineyards, a native oak knoll and the Napa River, with views of Mount Saint Helena directly to the north. Steeped in history, the site is within view of the Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, the site of a water-powered grist mill built in 1846 that was once a center of activity in the valley.

The dual challenge lay in working within the constraints of a site with unique constraints, including an old railroad crossing and an easement across the property’s northwest corner, and telling the story of five generations working the land while simultaneously looking forward toward future generations. Honoring our client’s admiration for traditional farm buildings, we used a historic agricultural vernacular as a starting point, then experimented with ways to visually lighten the structure. The solution lay in using a light steel truss system, together with a natural stone base that grounds the structure in the land. A ridge skylight allows light to stream into the interior, and solar panels provide energy for the winery. The design is simple, rectilinear and efficient, referencing the language of a traditional barn in a distinctly contemporary way. To promote a sense of historical continuity, the new winery will be covered in redwood salvaged from the property’s existing barn – which was constructed in the late 1800s from remnants of the Grist Mill.