Held every two years, AIA Redwood Empire’s design awards program recognizes outstanding architecture in Northern California, including Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Modoc, Siskiyou, Trinity, and Sonoma counties. We are excited to share that Auteur Russian River, a new Healdsburg tasting room for the celebrated Auteur Wines, received a citation award in the Architecture – Built category at the awards gala on October 17.

Set on a hillside overlooking the Russian River, Mark West Creek, and acres of vineyards, Auteur Russian River was designed to celebrate the surrounding landscape and offer guests an immersive year-round tasting experience. The 3,000 square-foot tasting room opens to panoramic views through a 50-foot-long wall of windows along its south elevation. Large sliding doors open the tasting room interior to an elevated terrace and courtyard, connecting visitors with the sights and sounds of the working vineyard around them.

The design also provides comfort in a region with warm summers and falls, and cool winters. Deep roof overhangs and a dramatic northwest cantilever over the terrace provide shade on warm afternoons, while a fireplace and redwood hearth bench provide seasonal comfort. Balancing an intimate scale with the flexibility to host large groups and varied events throughout the year, the project team integrated easily reconfigurable furniture to accommodate different party sizes, while a private tasting room responds to Auteur’s desire for a dedicated space to hold curated experiences.

Congratulations to our client, Auteur Wines, and project team, including Earthtone Construction, Munden Fry Landscape Associates (MFLA), Strandberg Engineering, and Summit Engineering, with photography by Matthew Millman. Learn more about the project below.