Situated in the beautiful Red Hills of Yamhill County in Dundee, Oregon, Sokol Blosser Winery expanded its wine-making ability with the creation of a barrel aging room to complement and upgrade their existing facilities. SERA designed the new facility to blend with the surrounding hills while giving a visual clue to the wine barrels stored inside. In keeping with the owner’s commitment to manage their vineyard in an environmentally responsible way, the new facility has been designed according to both the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating system and Principles of the Natural Step. In December 2002, Sokol Blosser became the first winery in the world to receive a LEED Silver certification for one of its buildings.
The design concept for the barrel aging cellar features three chambers located underground to take advantage of the natural cooling properties of the soil, eliminating the need for mechanical cooling. The rounded profile of the facility blends with the surrounding hills while giving a visual clue to the wine barrels stored inside.
