A Cuvaison celebration: Napa winery invites public to two July open houses

June 30, 4:33 AMSF Culinary Travel ExaminerWanda Hennig

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Cuvaison's Carneros tasting room with a view.

Mark your calendar for July 11 and July 18. Read on for RSVP details.

Calistoga and Carneros — two of the most delicious reasons to visit Napa — just got tastier.

Smart designs and distinct experiences define Cuvaison’s two Napa Valley visitor centers — one in Calistoga and the other in Carneros. The public is invited to 40th anniversary celebration open houses this July.

Cuvaison Estate Wines has turned its traditional tasting room image on its head with two fresh, distinct and stunningly evocative visitor environments.

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the winery has employed the understated and progressive approach used in its winemaking to the sweeping design project, featuring an authentic focus on the specific place. Make that places.

Unique in the region, Cuvaison features two distinct winery-based tasting rooms that together embrace the Napa Valley. The winery is hosting open houses for the public at both sites in mid-July.

Located on the Silverado Trail, the re-design of the historic Calistoga site is a contemporary take on the classic tasting environment — warm and intimate, with an inviting tasting bar and tree-shaded picnic grounds.

The Carneros site off Duhig Road graces the center of the winery’s 400-acre estate vineyards.  Surrounded by rolling waves of vineyards (see the tasting room's vineyard view left), natural light plays a prominent role in the compelling design that blurs the distinction between indoors and out.

Massive frameless glass doors slide out of sight, opening to a terrace protected from the elements by the building itself. With relaxing seated indoor and outdoor tastings by appointment, Cuvaison’s Carneros tasting room (see architectural detail, right) is the newest incentive to linger in Napa Valley’s southern-most region – easily accessible to Bay Area and Sacramento visitors.

To execute the vision of timeless, site-specific design and continue the environmental commitment that has earned the winery sustainability certification, Cuvaison Estate Wines president, Jay Schuppert, selected architectural firm Gould Evans / Baum Thornley.

Employing what he calls “smart design,” architect Douglas Thornley installed systems that direct storm water to an irrigation pond through bio-swale (dirt, rocks and grasses), showcased reclaimed redwood and certified sustainably-grown cedar in the tasting rooms, and incorporated overhangs, north-facing glass walls and cross-ventilation for natural temperature control.

And though he’s proposed it to many other clients, Cuvaison was Thornley’s first to approve the additional 25 percent cost of used-denim insulation, an environmentally friendly alternative.

Beautiful “green” architectural designs using reclaimed cedar and redwood blurs the distinction between indoors and out and design that blurs the distinction between indoors and out at Carneros. (Click here to see Cuvaison’s solar energy watch.)

“For 40 years, Cuvaison has quietly hosted visitors in our humble tasting room on the Silverado Trail while taking progressive steps in our vineyards, winemaking and winery design,” said Schuppert.

“We’re not your father’s Cuvaison anymore. With these distinctly different settings and experiences, we have not one but two Napa Valley visitor centers befitting our wines — and great reasons to visit both.”

Cuvaison is best known for cool climate Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, and mountain Cabernet Sauvignons.

The public is invited to celebrate the winery’s 40th anniversary and grand openings of both tasting rooms at these upcoming open houses:

Calistoga Tasting Room (pictured immediately above, left) – 4550 Silverado Trail – Saturday, July 11, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

This historic winery location offers a contemporary take on the classic tasting environment. An inviting tasting bar offers a warm and intimate experience. Tree shaded picnic grounds.

Carneros (Napa) – 1221 Duhig Road – Saturday, July 18, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

This light-filled state-of-the-art space close to Domaine Carneros and the di Rosa Preserve has sweeping vineyard views from in- and out-door seated tastings.

RSVP by July 6: (800) 253-9463 or club@cuvaison.com.

Photos by Wanda Hennig and courtesy Cuvaison.