California’s Napa Valley is home to over 400 wineries and tasting rooms, many are family-owned and operate on fertile land that has been used for wine production since the 19th century. Among the region’s first generation wine producers was H. W. Crabb, who opened his To Kalon Vineyard in the 1860s.
In Greek, “To Kalon” translates to “highest beauty.” When Crabb passed away the land exchanged hands, eventually coming under the ownership of the Mondavi family. The Robert Mondavi Winery is still in operation today in Oakville, California, producing great Cabernet Sauvignon on the hallowed grounds of To Kalon.
Mondavi worked with architect Cliff May, in the 1960s, to design a tower and a pronounced archway to spell out the campus’s entry. These elements led visitors to production spaces, located to the campus’s north, and a hospitality wing to the south.
In the ensuing years, a series of ad hoc expansions took place, rendering the campus disjointed and disconnected from the surrounding landscape. Now, Aidlin Darling Design and Surfacedesign are reimagining the the site. BAMO is behind the interior furnishings, and BAR Architects and Cello & Maudru Construction make up the design-build team.
The architects have been tasked with ensuring that the winery’s physical presence reflects the client’s business and viticultural philosophy. This vision is at the intersection of hospitality, innovation, and land stewardship.
David Darling of Aidlin Darling Design said the project is about rehabilitating the winery and reconnecting it to its environs: “Over the years, the winery’s growth had taken its toll, making it feel unorganized, inward looking, industrial, and ‘heavy on heavy’.”
“Our goal with the new design was to peel back unnecessary layers, restoring clarity to the original Clifford May design while reconnecting the visitors to the surrounding landscape,” Darling said in a statement.
The existing north wing will be fully remodeled, architects shared, and repurposed for modern winemaking needs, private testings, and interactive production areas; there will also be artist studios for winemakers. This component is happening in tandem with Robert Mondavi Winery’s Winemaker Technical Council.
The north wing will effectively become the campus’s “town hall,” designers elaborated.
A new, simple inverted gabled roof building that flanks the existing archway evokes the original architecture by May, albeit inversely. This bit is meant to echo the natural silhouette of the Mayacama Mountains beyond, and help collect rainwater. Guests will pass through this structure en route to terraces, a reception bar, retail gallery, and courtyard.
An amphitheater, To Kalon Bowl, is being reimagined. The landscape architecture office is also helping restore the soil to ensure its vitality for generations to come. The architects are repurposing salvaged stones, concrete slabs, heavy timbers, tiles, and other found materials to reflect the site’s local geology.
Roderick Wyllie, Surfacedesign principal, said the “design begins with an exploration of the forces that shaped this place—the tectonic shifts, volcanic activity, and sedimentary deposits that created the unique conditions for To Kalon’s world-class wines.”
Darling added, “We wanted to honor and celebrate Robert Mondavi’s legacy while providing discreet new layers, refocusing attention on what really matters, the vineyards.”
The project is slated for completion by the end of 2026.
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