Design unveiled for Copia Vineyards Winery and Tasting Room

Copia Vineyards will be a destination winery located at the top of a hill within the rolling landscape of the Willow Creek AVA District in Paso Robles, Calif. The hilltop winery will serve as the culmination of a journey that begins as visitors wind their way through the 25 acres of planted vineyard.

The structures will be muted in color and modest in scale, sitting naturally within the setting. The first elements of the winery encounter by guests will be the crush pad, the open-air fermentation area, and the processing facilities. A small parking area will connect to a protected courtyard within the 18,803-sf complex. The production facility's north-facing clerestories in the sawtooth roof will minimize the need for artificial lighting.

The two-level, 5,012-sf hospitality building will take advantage of the topography by placing a public-facing tasting room and general hospitality functions on the ground floor level, connecting the guests to the vineyard, the surrounding Ridgeline landscape, and views of Paso Robles to the east.

Interiors will feature an exposed steel structure and white oak flooring. The tasting bar will be wrapped in blackened steel and topped with reclaimed wood. A wine library will be located downstairs, tucked into the hillside, and have the ability to host VIP tastings. The proprietor’s office, general offices, and a lounge are also included in the design.

The combination of the open-steel structure, operable glass windows, and polycarbonate panels will balance daylight with natural cross-ventilation.

The build team includes: Clayton Korte (architect), Rogers + Pedersen Construction (general contractor), Walsh Engineering (civil engineer), SSG Structural Engineers (structural engineer), TEP Engineering (M+P engineer), Thoma Electric (electric engineer), and Studio Outside (landscape architect).