The Mondavi Family’s Continuum Estate Debuts a New Hospitality Space
An existing stucco building is artfully reimagined to create a sanctuary in Napa Valley for one of the wine world’s most storied families
Continuum represents four generations of the Mondavi family’s winemaking heritage. After the sale of the Mondavi winery in 2004, Tim Mondavi and his sister Marcia Mondavi Borger founded Continuum, along with their families and their legendary father, Robert Mondavi. They pivoted to wines that are first-growth, estate-grown, produced, and bottled on-site—farming that is organic and regenerative. Now, the opening of its new hospitality house coincides with winemaker Tim Mondavi’s milestone 50th vintage.
The Mondavis commissioned Nobili Marqués Arquitectura for their latest venture into hospitality. While this is the firm’s first project, architects Silvia Nobili and Marta Alabau Marqués—former principals at Backen & Gillam, now known as Backen & Backen—boast an impressive wine country portfolio that includes such notable properties as Meadowood, The Napa Valley Reserve, Mayacamas, and Promontory. For interiors, they collaborated with Katie Martinez Design.
First and foremost, the family didn’t want a flashy new structure. “The design of the estate house complements the site, creating a strong connection between the vineyards and the tasting experience through sightlines and materials,” Alabau Marqués tells Galerie. They wanted the wine—and the topography of its location on the renowned Pritchard Hill, the property’s original stucco house—to take center stage.
“We designed the estate house so it would never sit apart from the vineyard—it grows out of it,” Nobili says. “You can see the rows from the tasting room openings before you ever taste what came from them. Step from the vines into the tasting room and the journey never breaks; the hospitality spaces are simply where the vineyard finally speaks.”
Rather than demolishing and building new, the existing building was reused and its footprint expanded. The working and personal relationship with the family, along with a deep knowledge of the site and its existing buildings, informed the end result. “The client wanted to make sure the project was going to be more than just a building—that it had a soul and created emotions for the guest experience, and it had a relationship with the rest of the property and its buildings,” Nobili continues.
Throughout, the site’s terroir is reflected in the materials’ texture and color, which also weds the new hospitality space to the existing winery production building nearby, as the original stucco house design initially inspired its architecture.
When you enter the Estate House, you begin an emotional journey, says Nobili, adding that after the winding drive, you park and walk toward a serene courtyard. Stepping inside, the ceiling and walls are wood, stained in the same tones as the vines. “On your right, you see a painting of the wine label, Light of the Vine by Chiara Mondavi, lit softly from above; on the left, an expansive opening frames a lone oak tree. The sequence of compression and release—courtyard, threshold, framed views—slows the visitor’s pace, preparing them for the discovery of the site and the wines that follow.”
The wood-paneled entry leads to two separate tasting rooms. Each is oriented to frame the surrounding 180-degree dramatic views of its Pritchard Hill location, an elevated hilltop that ranges from 1,300 to 1,600 feet above sea level. While sipping and lingering over wines paired with delectable food, guests look out on spectacular views of vineyards and the valley floor, and on clear days, the San Francisco Bay.
Rooms are designed to seamlessly blend indoor-outdoor flow. Vine trunk bark creates continuity between interior and exterior wood tones. Walls are painted green to evoke both the site’s vines and olive trees. The color of the soil and rocks inspires the concrete walls. Concrete floors and natural wood ceilings create a serene architectural backdrop, layered with white oak and walnut, stone, natural brass, leather, wool, mohair, and woven textiles in earthy, warm tones.
Sustainability features, meanwhile, include locally sourced materials and vendors, underground cave construction for natural temperature regulation, the use of shading for sun control to minimize reliance on mechanical equipment, and native and low-water plants.
The tasting room’s custom sofas were built by a local San Francisco upholsterer Hardesty-Dwyer in a sensuous mossy mohair velvet inspired by stones strewn through the vineyard. A handsome custom long dark stained walnut table and chairs by San Francisco furniture maker Christian Hummler command the Valley room; its hues and textures reflect the region’s moodier native vegetation.
The two tasting rooms are designed to enhance the ritual of wine through light, texture, and a sense of place. The architects succeed in making the two tasting rooms feel unique—one is light and loose, and the other is darker and moodier to allow for different types of gatherings at any time of day. As Marqués puts its, “the Estate House is a celebration of family history and a space for the next generation to carry on the passion and tradition.”
“The culture of wine is about sharing, sharing a meal, and sharing time together,” says Carissa Mondavi. “It is the beverage of generosity. For as long as I can remember, the meal has always been what brings us together… and wine elevates it to a celebration. We want to create moments that reflect and share the importance of the meal and wine’s integral place on the table. This new space feels like an extension of our family home and table, and opens up so many opportunities for inviting people in.”