HBA San Francisco has completed the design of Elusa Winery, operated by Napa Valley winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, in the town of Calistoga, California. Authentically rustic, relaxed and elegantly refined, the design of the winery is a fresh, honest expression of the vineyard lifestyle with inspiration rooted in the property’s connection to nature and its idyllic setting in a world-class locale.
Composed of an assemblage of buildings, each individually unique in design, the winery exudes the enduring soul of structures that have been collected and expanded upon over time. For the interiors, designers sought to balance rustic and modern sensibilities between an agrarian influence with earnest details and a sense of scale that is impressive and inviting. Finishes are rich and layered with character while an inimitable, well-curated art collection procured by Kevin Barry Art Advisory imbues each space with distinctive personality and local artisanal flavor.
A winding drive along the historic Silverado Trail leads to an olive tree-lined driveway and an arrival courtyard where a heritage oak tree immediately greets guests. In the reservation-only visitors’ tasting room, oversized banquettes flank the entrance where a feature gallery wall hangs above, grouped into combinations that celebrate and explore the storied history of the property and its evolution into the modern-day Elusa Winery brand. Interiors underscore an effortless, sophisticated lifestyle in an inviting palette of warm whites, natural oak and walnut, oil-rubbed bronze metals, neutral fabrics with rich textures, and a pop of mustard leather throughout. Soaring, double-height vaulted ceilings are supported by large white trusses while vertical wood plank walls, painted in a fresh white, complement warm wood millwork features and showcase the array of wines.
Photo: Noah Webb