Gowan Creek Production Facility - Goldeneye Winery
Philo, CA - Completed 2009
The owners wanted the new winery to blend in with the rural farmland setting and much of its aesthetic inspiration comes from the adjacent historic barn which housed the previous winemaking facilities. At the same time, it reflects cutting-edge, energy-efficient and environmental consciousness. Designed for small-lot techniques, the fermentation room can handle up to 100 movable 3-ton open-top fermentation tanks. “We designed it to emphasize open space and artisan techniques. As a result, we can highlight our vineyard diversity by working with individual lots of fruit” says Zach Rasmuson, winemaker.
The design is highly energy-efficient, durable, and closely fitted to the flow of production. The south-facing roof carries a grid-tied 34kw photovoltaic system, calculated to provide the bulk of the building’s electrical needs. FSC certified redwood was harvested from the owner’s property and used as exterior siding.
The owner is committed to environmental responsibility, and the project is slated to Natural daylight plays a key role in the building which eases task visibility while promoting comfort and well being for the users. Rainwater is collected in roof gutters and diverted to a sump which is then pumped to a pond and later used for agricultural needs. A 32 kilowatt solar photovoltaic array located on the south facing roof of the fermentation room produces the majority of the winery’s energy needs. All mechanical units were selected to exceed California energy standards, and the overall performance of the building complex was designed to significantly exceed a baseline industrial model. Night-air cooling is employed to augment mechanical cooling of the Barrel Room and high efficiency lighting—all key factors in LEED certification.
The redwood siding is FSC certified and was harvested from land owned by the company. The trees were locally milled, stickered and cured for four years prior to construction. In addition to all the sustainable features of the new winery, 98% of all construction waste from the project was recycled during construction.
The winery was designed with a 7,000-square-foot fermentation room that has a moveable catwalk, three overhead pneumatic punch-down tools, two mobile basket presses, and six fixed (close-topped) tanks to receive press wine.
