This project is unlike anything Nordby Construction has built before, or since. Winemaker Zach Rasmussen, who now serves as Chief Operating Officer for the Duckhorn portfolio, was a driving force behind the project, becoming a LEED Accredited Professional early in the development of the project in order to shepherd the project through the necessary approvals.

With a capacity of 60,000 cases per year, the winery was specifically designed for the processing of Pinot Noir grapes. The 18,000-square-foot pre-engineered metal building is strikingly composed of two sloping structures joined together by a vaulted open-air cupola running the length of the two buildings.

One side houses fermentation, offices and a lab, while the other houses barrel storage. Wine production takes place outdoors, under the cupola’s metal roof. Material choices hint at the differing functions: the fermentation is clad primarily in metal, while the barrel storage building is clad in vertical redwood siding milled from trees harvested on the property.

“I have worked with Nordby on construction projects since 1998.  At all times I have found them to add value, operate transparently and with integrity.  They are smart and dedicated people, who are also fun to work with.  They seek to partner with their clients to deliver projects on time and on budget.  From cost estimation to project management to the superintendents on the ground, they are a class act. I would work with Nordby again and recommend others to do so.”

— Zach Rasmuson, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, The Duckhorn Portfolio