A limestone wall runs in front of the front room of the tasting room of Auteur Wines in Sonoma County, which was designed by the US architecture studio Bohlin Cywinski Jackson to prioritize the casual atmosphere and “connection to the place”.
The project, called Auteur Russian River, is located just outside of Healdsburg, a popular town in Northern California wine country. It sits within the Russian River Valley, known for its lush vineyards, redwood forests and mild climate.
The brief featured a tasting room for the new home of Auteur Wines, which specializes in pinot noir and chardonnay wines.
Auteur Wines turned to Bohlin Cywinski Jackson to design a new tasting room, as the winery had grown, a small bungalow in the town of Sonoma, which opened in 2012.
As the winery grew in popularity, its owners wanted to build a new and larger home, which led to its acquisition of an eight-acre (3.2-hectare) site near Healdsburg. This place was once a hops farm.
At Auteur Wines’ expanded facility, the aim was to take advantage of the natural setting and reflect “the relaxed, approachable atmosphere that the winery is known for”, according to the studio.
The team found a 3,000-square-foot (279-square-meter) building set on a hill overlooking newly planted vineyards.
The building is rectangular in plan, with a small shed roof that follows the gentle slope of the site and extends outwards to create shade.
“The design is modest and residential, while prioritizing connection to the area and year-round flexibility and comfort for various sizes of groups,” the group said.
A winding drive leads to the main entrance.
The front elevation is mostly opaque, as it is lined with a textured limestone wall with limited openings. There is a small gap between the stone wall and the roof, which allows light to enter the clerestory.
The rear facade is very plain, as it consists of a 50 meter long (15 meter) wall of windows. Ample glazing provides full views of the landscape.
Inside the building, one finds a large tasting room and a cozy living room with a fireplace.
“Tucked behind the fireplace, the private tasting room responds to our client’s desire for a dedicated space to host an intimate, curated guest experience,” the team said.
The building also houses offices, a wine cellar and a catering kitchen.
In the main tasting area, one side has sliding doors that open to a shaded area. In the warmer months, visitors can sip wine while taking in the scenery and pleasant weather.
“In cooler temperatures, a black cast iron fireplace, redwood hearth bench and simple upholstered furniture provide a comfortable gathering space,” the team said.
The building has a carefully selected mix of timbers to provide warmth and texture, including oak floors and cedar ceilings.
Durability and energy efficiency were priorities for the project, resulting in the installation of both passive and active techniques.
The building’s fireplace uses propane, but the rest of the building uses electricity. A 24-kW solar array on the hill helps generate power for the facility.
The project also involved local interventions.
“Given the hilly terrain and heavy seasonal rainfall, the team carefully navigated stormwater management through a combination of native, drought-tolerant wetlands and bioswales,” the company said.
Overall, the project aims to capture the values of the winery while preparing for continued growth.
“The new tasting room features an approachable atmosphere, true to Auteur’s original success, while positioning the winery for sustainable growth,” the team said.
The architecture studio has many offices in the US, including nearby San Francisco, and has designed other wine projects, such as the Caymus-Suisun Winery in Northern California.
Other winery projects in the US include a Napa winery by Bestor Architecture that takes cues from mid-century modernism and a Sonoma County winery by Walker Warner Architects that uses redwood, cypress and curved earth.
Photo by Matthew Millman.
Project credits:
Architecture and interior:Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
General contractor:Formation of Earthstone
Country builder:Munden Fry Landscape Associates
Structural engineer:Engineer from Strandberg
Electrical Engineer:Conference Engineering
Civil engineer:Steve Martin Associates
Equipment and pipes:TEP Engineering
Compliance with T-24 energy:SOLDATA Energy Consulting