What Happened to Northern Winery Doors, Sebastiani, Rubicon, Kunde, St. Francis, Arrowood and Rutherford Hill?
Traditionally wineries and wine caves in the northern hemisphere have northern facing entrances because keeping the wines cool and away from sunlight was essential to producing a good vintage time and again. There was also a cardinal direction message with such a door; north is the direction of the night, the stars and planning for the future.
Wine is made to be drunk in the future, sometimes far in the future. More wine is drunk at night than during the day (wine country excepted of course where everything important, other than sex, happens during the day), and how many times have you ventured outside with your mood and obviously your night vision improved by a glass or three of wine (it’s all those anti-oxidants improving circulation to the eyes). Then you look up and there, spread across the heavens, are the stars in their silent majesty. Let’s drink to them.
I haven’t made a numerical analysis of this but it seems to me that Sonoma has more northern facing wineries than Napa, which is only fitting. Sonoma is more traditional in its winemaking approach. The first modern California wineries were established just a short distance from the historic Plaza. When the Sebastiani family (established near the turn of the 20th century) built their modern winery and visitor center they made the entrance northern facing. Even the entrance to their Viansa property has a northern facing door to the tasting room.
When you visit the Kunde winery (five generations) up in the Sonoma Valley the entrance to their winery and tasting room faces north. Admittedly their cave entranceway faces west, but you have to work with the direction of the mountain sometimes.
When you go a little farther the St. Francis winery has their visitor entranceway facing north. The Deerfield Ranch has their caves, where they also do their tastings, facing north east. There is a second message that comes with a northern facing door; this will be passed on to the generations, as constant as the Northern Star.
Interestingly the nearby Arrowood winery has a south east facing door, the area of surprise, and that has changed hands a surprising number of times. Currently its owned by Jess Jackson and company.
In Napa the wineries often face either northeast or southwest. This was a practical consideration, the desire to align with the roads that travel the length of the valley. Even back in the 1800’s they recognized the importance of visibility. Rubicon faces northeast, the direction of the strong personality, and that property is known for the strong men who have owned it, originally Auguste Neibaum and later Francis Ford Coppola. The Regusci winery faces southwest, the direction of partnership, and this has been operated by the same extended family since the 1930’s.
Rutherford Hill winery faces north, and this is owned by the Terlato family, who with their 44,000 square feet of caves, that also face north, are always planning for the future. So we can expect it to be passed on within the family over time. This may be the reason why wineries in Sonoma tend to pass down in the family through multiple generations more than Napa wineries: Sonoma wineries have more northern facing doors. It makes you think!
Ralph & Lahni de Amicis are authors of the Amicis Winery Guides (Find them on Amazon), and owners of Amicis Tours. They are authors of over twenty books on health, design, business and travel. Their iPhone Apps, The Napa Valley Wine Tour, and The Sonoma Winery Tour are a tour guides approach to these beautiful area, complete with 1000’s of photos and insights. Their articles and products can be found on the sites http://www.amicistours.com and http://www.spaceandtime.com
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