Tastings will continue on site; expected
completion in spring 2026
RUTHERFORD, Calif., July 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Established in 1900 and
recognized as a pioneering winery of Napa
Valley's Rutherford American Viticultural Area, Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) announces it will break
ground on a multimillion-dollar renovation. The renovation will
reimagine the property's original beauty and history with a design
that honors the winery's pioneering past, present, and future
leadership in California
winemaking. The current Reserve Tasting Room located at the south
end of the building and the adjacent club lounge will remain open
during the renovation. Winemaking will also continue on site.
"Given the historical importance of BV to the American wine
industry, it's incredibly exciting to restore this iconic estate
for future generations to experience an important part of
Rutherford. It started with a
vision from Georges and Fernande de
Latour, then André Tchelistcheff, and I feel privileged and
very proud to be the current steward to lay the foundation for the
next century," says General Manager and Senior Winemaker Trevor
Durling.
When Founders Georges de Latour and his wife Fernande first laid
eyes on their original Rutherford
vineyard (still farmed by BV today), she exclaimed, "Quel beau
lieu," or "what a beautiful place". Later, in 1923, the
de Latours purchased the winery located across the street from
the vineyard from former U.S. Senator Seneca Ewer. The original winery structures
dating back to the 1880s were built of stone. They boasted
distinguished twin gabled roofs obscured or removed over time with
construction in the 1930s, 40s, and later decades under past
proprietors. Treasury Wine Estates acquired Beaulieu Vineyard
in 2016 and, since that time, has invested heavily in making
improvements in BV's vineyards in an effort to continually improve
the quality of the wines. With this project, the focus shifts to
creating a luxury "brand home" worthy of a global icon.
Renovation Details
Led by Signum Architecture and
anticipated to be completed in spring 2026, the renovated property
will provide an extensive offering of tasting experiences in a
luxury hospitality environment that parallels its longstanding
legacy. The redesign will restore the original stone buildings
visible in historic photographs while providing an even more
inviting and elevated visitor experience that weaves together past
and future, connecting guests with the property's storied
vineyards.
"At its core, the renovation of Beaulieu
Vineyard is an act of revival – a long-term commitment to
the history and future of the Napa
Valley," says Kirsten Shinnamon
Baker of Signum Architecture. "Restoring the winery's
approach to the original structures and adapting them for
contemporary use is an inherently sustainable redesign, as it
captures and repurposes the energy embodied in the historic
structures."
The redesign will feature a rerouted entry, creating a more
connected visitor arrival adjacent to the winery's Seneca Vineyard (also known as BV10). New spaces
in the two-floor building will include an open-air tasting
courtyard, multiple private tasting rooms for hosting intimate and
VIP experiences, a dedicated club member lounge, a Georges de
Latour Private Reserve Wine Library for collector experiences, and
an expansive hall overlooking the vineyards with flexible seating
to accommodate larger groups.
Working with a professional historian and archivist,
Beaulieu Vineyard completed a
yearlong inventory of its historical collection of physical and
printed materials in 2022. Pieces from the winery's collection,
including Georges de Latour's original 1925 Cadillac Imperial
Touring Car, will be artfully incorporated throughout the spaces,
and brought to life with immersive storytelling and
exhibitions.
The milestone renovation will support the winery's bold
sustainability vision to run on one hundred percent renewable
electricity this year and be carbon neutral by 2030 for its own
operations. The project will incorporate sustainable materials
throughout, and the renovation team will seek creative new uses for
those materials removed from the building. A new solar array will
renewably power the site, including ample EV parking and an
all-electric kitchen. Finally, all exterior spaces will feature
water-wise landscaping using native plants.
About Beaulieu
Vineyard
Established in Rutherford, Napa
Valley, in 1900, Beaulieu
Vineyard (BV) is considered a highly collectible classic and
has set a world-class standard for California Cabernet Sauvignon.
Known for its legacy of innovation driven by the contributions of
such luminaries as founders Georges & Fernande de Latour and enologist André
Tchelistcheff, the winery has maintained its cultural relevance for
more than 120 years. Since its debut in 1940, the winery's pinnacle
bottling, Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, has
become the benchmark for Napa Valley Cabernet and one of the most
collected American wines. With an international
reputation, Beaulieu Vineyard wines have wowed the world's
elite over the generations, from presidents and princes to queens
and celebrities. Today, Beaulieu continues to break the
boundaries of traditional winemaking all in the pursuit of mastery,
remaking a new standard of excellence. For more information, visit
https://www.bvwines.com or follow @bvwines on Instagram.
Media Contacts:
Tia
Butts, Beaulieu Vineyard Sr.
PR Manager, tia.butts@tweglobal.com, (707) 721-2082
High-resolution images available for download:
• BV Renovation Renderings
• BV Images
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SOURCE Beaulieu Vineyard