Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Founded in the late 19th-century by immigrants from Piedmont, Italy, the Villa Maria winery in Northern Sonoma County had been closed since the Prohibition era, when a couple decided to purchase and revive the property in 1987 as Blue Rock Vineyard. In 2005 and then again in 2017, the owners enlisted the team at Geiszler Architects to restore the Old World, cottage-style architecture for the present day.
Geiszler Architects was first enlisted to update the cottage in the mid-2000s. More than ten years later, the architects returned to renovate the original barn, adding the winery, tasting rooms, guest suite, lounge areas, and a commercial kitchen. Surrounding gardens were revamped as well, including 130-year-old stone walls, bocce ball courts, and lush olive groves planted by the land's former inhabitants. The result of the redesign is a luxurious, rustic estate rich in contemporary and 19th-century European influences. Read on for our tour.
192
1 / 10
The 100-acre property consists of a barn — now used as a winery — and a cottage, as well as 40 acres of agricultural land dedicated to Bordeaux varietals and 52 acres of gardens and wildlife, including wild turkeys and pigs. As Blue Rock's production capacity and customer service needs began to outgrow the original buildings, the estate needed more space for production and visitors. The newly renovated barn features public tasting rooms, a private suite, and a basement that holds 300 barrels of wine. Geiszler Architects strived to maintain the integrity of the original structure. At either end of the barn, they added large windows to bring in air and light. Following best practices for sustainability, the firm also reused existing materials and pulled resources from the estate for much of the renovation.
Photography: Vance Fox
2 / 10
The estate is named for its colorful soil that includes deep blue pebbles, blue rocks, and serpentine.
Photography: Vance Fox
3 / 10
For the barn, the architects wanted to craft an environment that would unite traditional and modern styles.
Photography: Vance Fox
4 / 10
The architects expanded the size of the doors in the barn's central breezeway, which leads to this central gallery for guests. Throughout the estate, the firm prioritized sustainability: for example, the basement/cellar, mostly buried in the earth, maintains its temperature through natural cooling properties, eliminating the need for a conditioning system.
Photography: Vance Fox
5 / 10
Within the barn, the living area serves as a lounge and second tasting room. The ceiling is made from the original barn siding, while the floors are crafted from reclaimed cypress.
Photography: Vance Fox
6 / 10
Once used as a space for feeding cattle, the Vintner's Cottage was transformed into a luxurious retreat that guests can rent or visit for elaborate luncheons hosted by the estate. More than 100 years ago, the property's original owners used stone sourced from the surrounding landscape to build the cottage, and Geiszler Architects relied on the same stone to rebuild parts of the building in the early 2000s. Inspirato, a luxury vacation home management company, is tasked with running the facility.
Photography: Vance Fox
7 / 10
Visitors can rent the Villa Maria room in the cottage for lunch, where an entire wall of windows offers lush views of the surrounding Alexander Valley.
Photography: Vance Fox
8 / 10
In the cottage, an intricate curved staircase leads from the full gourmet kitchen to the upper level. The treads and risers are site-cast concrete, and the railings/ironwork were completed by a local Sonoman craftsman.
Photography: Vance Fox
9 / 10
All of the cottage's rebuilt fittings, including windows, doors, and cabinets, were crafted reusing siding from the original barn.
Photography: Vance Fox
10 / 10
Geiszler Architects was responsible for the landscape and hardscape layouts across the property. The owner then worked with local nurseries to specify historically appropriate and indigenous plant species. To the side of the cottage, the design team strengthened a crumbling retaining wall and added a fireplace to create an inviting, cozy outdoor space.
Photography: Vance Fox
Source: Internet
