Cuvaison is excited to announce the completion of an expansion to its Tasting Salon in Napa Valley’s acclaimed Los Carneros AVA. Designed to take full advantage of the serene and secluded setting of the winery’s historic estate property, which features expansive views of the surrounding vineyards and mountains, the redesigned Tasting Salon features a 2,500-square-foot terrace named the Vineyard Patio and a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass wall separating the Vineyard Patio from the interior tasting room. The redesigned Tasting Salon also includes a Winemaker’s Lounge with its own dedicated patio for private tastings and educational events. Located one hour from San Francisco and just 10 minutes from downtown Napa, the Cuvaison Tasting Salon is located at 1221 Duhig Rd, where it is nestled amid the vineyard in a bucolic setting, with no visible roads or traffic. The Tasting Salon is open for by-appointment, seated tastings daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended summer hours on the weekends.
Cuvaison Expands Tasting Salon at Los Carneros Estate
The expansion of the Cuvaison Tasting Salon was designed by renowned wine country architect Douglas Thornley, who is a principal at Goring & Straja Studio. Thornley also designed the original Cuvaison Tasting Salon and is a long-time Cuvaison wine club member. Landscaping for the project was overseen by Sonoma’s acclaimed Roche + Roche Landscape Architecture. As additional features of the expansion, Cuvaison moved all powerlines underground to ensure unobstructed views for its guests, planted new Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards surrounding the Vineyard Patio to enhance the idyllic setting, added additional parking, and relocated the main entrance to the Tasting Salon to create a “Wow!” reveal moment as guests arrive, where they are greeted by 230-degree scenic vistas of the vineyards.
“This magical property has been the key to our success and the essence of who we are as a winery since 1979,” said Cuvaison President and CEO Daniel Zepponi. “Even though we are just a few minutes from Napa, our estate is beautifully tucked away and tranquil. It was already a stunning destination with postcard-perfect views in every direction, but now with this expansion we’ve brought the natural beauty of our historic estate to the forefront of our guest experience. As we look towards Cuvaison’s next fifty years, I believe that we have created a wine country destination every bit as exceptional as our estate-grown wines. At the same time, it puts our vineyard front and center, and allows our guests to experience our wines right at the heart of where they are grown.”
To create a space that frames the beauty of the Cuvaison Estate, the redesign marries elements of agrarian architecture, including a simple shed roof and natural materials like recycled redwood and cedar, with more modern touches that include indoor/outdoor slate floors, high ceilings, and expansive floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows. Interior furnishings include luxurious Tivoli sectional couches for lounging, with elegant Milano and Equinox outdoor furnishings selected to enhance the magnificent al fresco setting of the terrace.
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“This is an exciting time for both Cuvaison and Los Carneros,” said Estate Director Brendan Finley. “With new resorts opening, and a renewed appreciation for the elegance and beauty of true cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Los Carneros is undergoing a renaissance. With our expanded Tasting Salon, we have created a world-class venue that embodies what makes Los Carneros so unique and special. Whether guests wish to explore our estate with a Vineyard Hike and Tasting, or choose to relax on our tranquil terrace and savor an Estate Tasting or our Cuvaison & Caviar Experience, every experience we offer is intimate and rooted in the beauty of our estate.”
“It is a rare experience to be able to revisit and improve upon a project that you love,” said Architect Douglas Thornley, who designed the original Cuvaison Tasting Salon. “The view from the Salon was the true inspiration for the redesign. With no roads or other wineries in sight, the view is like a painting, with a foreground, middle-ground and background. As the light changes throughout the day, different elements of the view come into focus in really majestic ways. While guests are only an hour away from the Bay Area, it is so quiet and secluded that it feels like it could be a hundred miles away.”
The unveiling of the expanded Tasting Salon represents the completion of the first phase of a two-part project. The second phase of the project, which will begin later this summer, will include the installation of beautiful open-air pavilions by Cuvaison’s scenic pond for VIP tastings and special events.
ABOUT CUVAISON
Founded in 1969, Cuvaison is one of the pioneering wineries that shaped the modern era of California winemaking, helping to catapult Napa Valley onto the global stage as one of the world’s most revered wine regions. More than five decades later, Cuvaison remains true to its pioneering roots. Still an independent, family-owned, working winery, Cuvaison is dedicated to making estate-grown Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from its acclaimed estate vineyard in the cool Los Carneros appellation of Napa Valley. Recognized as quintessential expressions of cool-climate Napa Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Cuvaison’s wines offer seamless balance, vibrant fruit and vineyard-inspired character and complexity. For more information, visit cuvaison.com.
