Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/62522
CALIFORNIA Mendocino CALIFORNIA Pacific Ocean Hunnicutt Winery Napa San Francisco NV struggling. The winery is also rare in other ways: Stephens and his father designed it from the start to provide custom wine- making for other boutique wineries—this is not unusual in itself, but Hunnicutt was constructed to the high standards typical of a boutique winery. J Monterey Paso Robles WATER WELLS Test Holes • Deepening Since 1977 AIR & FLUID ROTARY DRILLING 255-7923 Domestic • Irrigation Lic. # 439746 Most new custom-crush wineries, by contrast, are utilitarian buildings—often in industrial areas. Stephens' winery is largely built in an elaborate cave that also offers opportunities to impress visitors. The craft winery occupies a hilltop on the Silverado Trail across from Rombauer Vineyards and has another unusual twist: The property doesn't include a vineyard. Most newcomers planning high-end wineries in the Napa Valley start with vineyards—the romantic image that draws many to the attractive valley. They buy a 20-acre parcel that also allows construction of a winery, hire a vineyard manager to plant vines and build a fancy house with the intention of someday add- WINEMAKING ustin Hunnicutt Stephens held his first harvest this year at the new Hunnicutt Winery in St. Helena, Calif., a rare win- ery built at a time when many wine businesses have been Highlights • Justin Hunnicutt Stephens designed the Napa Valley facility for custom crushing small lots in collaboration with other winemakers. • Building Hunnicutt Winery in a cave cost half as much as building an aboveground winery. • Creating a boutique winery designed for custom crush requires special attention to many items including size, number of tanks and work organization. ing a picturesque winery, perhaps made from local stone or in the form of a faux- Tuscan villa or French chateau. The Hunnicutt property is big enough for a winery at 15.1 acres, but the steep hillsides can't be planted to grapes. The land, not being suitable for vineyards, was also relatively reasonable (by Napa Valley standards), though Stephens declined to disclose the price. USED BY THE FINEST WINERIES TO ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULTS Call Now to Schedule Design Appointments! LT™ & LT 2+2™ MOG Separators Fruit Receiving Systems Bin Dumpers Sorting Tables Belt Conveyors Screw Conveyors Vibratory Conveyors Peristaltic Pumps...... • Gentle • Durable • Highest Quality • Best Performance • Self Priming • Powerful The Good News? Your goal of perfection just became more attainable. The Bad News? Everybody wants one. Membrane presses from 10 HL - 200 HL. Precise control in an exquisite machine. World Renowned Quality Santa Rosa, California 95403 P 707 573 3141 • F 707 573 3140 www.pnlspecialties.com 1650 Almar Parkway CA Contractor's #803431, OR Contractor's #180330, WA Contractor's #PLSPELS923BZ www.HuckfeldtWellDrilling.com SOLUTIONS • EXPERTISE • QUALITY • SATISFACTION Wines & Vines DeCeMBeR 2011 27