Last Sunday (Sept. 21) proved to be a beautiful day to celebrate both the weather and Adamvs' inaugural 2010 wine releases at the winery's new tasting pavilion. The Howell Mountain winery, a relatively new kid on the block, opened the doors, ceiling and wine bottles in honor of the new tasting room and hospitality center.
Adamvs, Latin for "of this red earth" is a play on both the red, Howell Mountain soils on which the vineyards sit and the name of its owners, philanthropists Denise and Stephen Adams, who already know something about great wines, owning two Bordeaux chateau in France.
The couple bought what was formerly White Cottage Ranch in 2008 and are doing everything right to make this Howell Mountain's Next Great Estate:
• The site: great Napa mountain terroir
The 28 acre vineyard have glorious views and sunny exposures above the fog line. Neighbors include DANA and Dunn Vineyards.
• The farming: organic and Biodynamic certification
• The management: significant Biodynamic knowledge (along with elite winery experience)
Heather Conlin was formerly with another elite Napa label; previously she was the general manager at Bonny Doon Vineyards during its Biodynamic go go years.
• The winemaking: superstar consulting winemaker and rising star winemaker
Philippe Melka (DANA, Entre Nous, Skipstone and others) is the consulting winemaker; Jason Valenti is the winemaker.
To this list, as of Sunday's fete, one can add
The tasting room. Designed by architects Kurt Melander and Peter Benoit, it is as original and creative a pavilion as one could imagine and true to the Adamses notion of a place inspired by nature.
Constructed out of walls made of log pieces (from the site itself), artfully held together with log fitting metal work, the building's shape and flow through design enable guests to effortlessly shift in and out of enclosure and expanse. A small courtyard is nestled between the pavilion and a separate cube shaped structure which serves as both kitchen and wine library.
Enjoy these photos of the day; click on the photos to see them display in a larger size.
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| Adamvs Winery sits atop a hill on the property, above the tasting room |
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| Winemaker Jason Valenti gives a tour of the winery |
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| Amid the fermentation tanks with the crush pad in the background |
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| The pavilion and cube with courtyard in the middle |
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| The tasting room pavilion |
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| Interior of the pavilion |
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The logs coupled with the open air ceiling provide see-through airiness.
(A cover slides over the open ceiling when shelter is needed.) |
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| The view above |
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| Exterior wall and ceiling |
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| Inside the nearby cube: the wine library |
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| The pavilion provides a great space for intimate entertaining |
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| Celebrating with classical music |
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| Delectable treats included pastry wrapped duck nibbles |
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| The guest book |
