Few Napa wineries have the history of Beaulieu Vineyard. In 1900, Georges de Latour founded the winery when he purchased a four-acre vineyard in Rutherford. His wife Fernande commented “Quelle beau lieu” upon first seeing the land, meaning “what a beautiful place.” Over the next two decades, Latour acquired land holdings throughout Napa Valley, including the 1923 purchase of the Fred Ewer Winery in Rutherford, which is still the site of the BV winery today. Built in 1885, the old stone building has been producing BV wines for more than 100 years, and has been home to revered winemakers like André Tchelistcheff.
Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) executives announced today that the company will begin a multimillion-dollar property renovation at BV’s historic building, with numerous changes to the original structure. TWE acquired the winery in 2016.
“With this renovation, we will create a home for BV that reflects its position as a foundational Napa Valley winery, speaks to the next generation of wine lovers, and supports our bold sustainability vision,” BV winemaker Trevor Durling told Wine Spectator.
The company has hired Signum Architecture to plan the new project. The firm has wine country experience—it designed Cade, Hall and Artesa. “At its core, the renovation of Beaulieu Vineyard is an act of revival—a long-term commitment to the history and future of the Napa Valley,” said Kirsten Shinnamon Baker of Signum Architecture, in a statement. “Restoring the winery’s approach to the original structures and adapting them for contemporary use is an inherently sustainable redesign, as it captures and repurposes the energy embodied in the historic structures.”
[article-img-container][src=2024-07/ns_beaulieu-plans-tasting-071724_1600.jpg] [credit= (Photo Courtesy of Beaulieu Vineyard)] [alt= Drawing of planned Beaulieu Vineyard tasting room.][end: article-img-container]
Protecting Napa History
Both winemaking and hospitality operations will continue throughout the renovations. The opening of the new hospitality center will coincide with the 125th anniversary of Beaulieu Vineyards in 2025. “We want our guests to have a luxurious, memorable, interactive experience,” said Durling. An open-air courtyard will expose the original stones walls of the 1885 two-story building. “Most of the traditional stone buildings have been hidden under vines and much of the space inside the original winery is outdated, poorly laid out or unusable. We are refurbishing the building and taking it back to its roots while adding a modern touch and more space for guests and our club members.”
Among the new indoor spaces is a large common room for guest tastings, as well as several smaller VIP rooms, a proper library with BV’s historical archives and the Georges de Latour Reserve for club members with larger grounds intended for special events. Durling notes that historic details, like chalk notes scribbled on an abandoned barrel room ceiling, marking when barrels were racked, will be preserved. “There are little jokes and personal notes as well,” he says. “We feel really proud that we get to rescue this artifact and share it with our guests.”
Shinnamon Baker projects the entire project will be completed in spring of 2026. “When completed, our renovation will be also in line with our sustainability goals,” Durling said. “We will incorporate sustainable materials throughout, and our renovation team will either be repurposing materials within the modern design or are seeking creative new uses for those materials being removed from the building.”
Stay on top of important wine stories with Wine Spectators free Breaking News Alerts.
