Grgich Hills Estate Winery

LocationSt. Helena, CA

ArchitectCharles Covell Architect

PhotographerTechnical Imagery Studios

Completed in 2021, Grgich Hills Estate Winery was Nordby’s first project with this acclaimed wine family. Founded by winemaker Mike Grgich, who gained international acclaim when the Chardonnay he produced for Chateau Montelena won first prize at the historic “Judgement of Paris” in 1976, Grgich Hills is one of the most revered names in the wine industry.

Set on Highway 29 in the Napa Valley, the Grgich Hills Estate Winery produces wine only from grapes grown on the estate, which is certified organic and biodynamic. Nordby Construction was asked to create a new hospitality experience within an existing building on the site. Carried out in a traditional, old-world design befitting the brand, the top-to-bottom renovation transformed the dark, vine-covered building into a welcoming, light-filled hospitality space with ample room for both indoor and outdoor tastings, and newly-renovated administrative offices on the building’s upper floor.

New stucco on the exterior gave new life to walls that had been significantly compromised by vines covering nearly the entire structure. New trellises on two sides of the building create multiple areas for outdoor tasting, and provide much-needed shade from the intense heat of the Napa Valley summers.

Additional windows on the front facade draw light into the formerly dark interior spaces. Inside, the ground floor spaces were opened up to form a spacious “great room,” and every interior finish was updated. New glass walls provide visitors with a view into the renovated barrel room, connecting them with the wine-making experience.