Project Description
Being the first from-the-ground-up new winery to be constructed in Sonoma County, CA in nearly a decade, the design process for the renowned Williams Selyem winery was complex and demanding. To capture the essence of Williams Selyem’s iconic status within the industry and its place in Sonoma’s cultural evolution, the design had to recognize the winery’s natural and minimalist philosophy while demonstrating Sonoma’s evolving modernization process.
Winery owner John Dyson involved Venezuelan design architect Alex Ceppi of D.arc Group in New York as lead designer. The architect of record for the project was Patrick Mervin Associates, Calistoga, CA.
The administration building, the project’s most public building, uses iconic elements of winemaking as a generator of form and meaning. The building is capped by a cantilevering wood and RHEINZINK barrel-vaulted structure. Approximately 7,700 of RHEINZINK stepped panels, fabricated by MetalTech—USA in Peachtree City, GA, were utilized to create the barrel vault roof. The panels were installed by Architectural Metal, Inc., Hopland, CA. “The flying barrel vault panel system is beautiful,” said Ceppi. RHEINZINK was also utilized for fascia soffit and gutter trim. The sides of the building utilize local redwood and masonry-clad programmatic volumes. The general contractor on the project was Jim Murphy & Associates, Santa Rosa.