MERRIAM VINEYARDS

Merriam Vineyard landscape architecture drone image

MFLA began the collaboration with the Merriam’s in 2021. The 21-acre family estate of 25 years, situated in the eastern Russian River Valley, is organically farmed and CCOF certified. The family’s sustainable farming and wine production practices formed the foundation of the renovation narrative and the selection of surface materials, finishes, plantings, and furnishings. Creating microclimates and comfortable exterior tasting environments was a priority.

TYPE

Hospitality / Winery

LOCATION

Healdsburg, CA

SCOPE

Master Plan, Full Design

TIMELINE

2021-2024

STATUS

Built

SIZE

21 acres

Merriam Vineyards Landscape Design Outdoor Tasting Rooms

MFLA’s design objective in the master planning of the winery was to improve upon the guest experience, from the entry into the winery and wayfinding to the tasting environments. Reorientation of the guest and winery parking and deliveries enabled exterior tasting environments to be developed and orientated adjacent to their existing Tasting Room. The renovated Tasting Room, Tasting Terrace and new Garden Room now presents different spaces for guests experiencing the wine.

The winery’s entry drive is punctuated with a strong single row of columnar Hornbeams. Wayfinding from the gravel parking area to the Tasting Room is reinforced with a new allée of antique olives and a rich underplanting of ornamental grasses.

Entrance into Merriam Vineyards with antique olive trees

Bay Laurel hedges define the outdoor rooms and provide a consistent horticultural language of “green walls” defining the guest environments as one can move from room to room. Bosques of Plane trees cover all tasting areas and will in time provide the shade required from the Summer and Fall heat of this region.

Merriam Vineyards Garden Wine Tasting Rooms

Merriam Vineyards Wine Tasting Garden Rooms

Merriam Vineyard Wine Tasting Garden Rooms

Merriam Vineyards Wine Tasting Garden Room Design Rendering

Merriam Vineyards Tasting Room Landscape Design

Merriam Vineyards Landscape Design by Munden Fry Landscape Associates

Sited on a hill above Hwy 101, undesirable views and sound from the freeway are mitigated with the design of a stone water wall and basin, enclosing one side of the Tasting Terrace and buffering off-site views and noise.

Merriam Vineyards stone water wall design

Merriam Vineyards Tasting Terrace Landscape Design

MFLA’s overall vision re interpreted Merriam Vineyard’s existing programmatic components, allowing the harvest and production process to remain unaffected while elevating and greatly expanding the guest experience.