This underground project marks the winery’s 140th anniversary. 

Hi Friend,

Our underground building experts are in the process of excavating a wine cave expansion at Francis Ford Coppola’s historic Inglenook. This underground project marks the winery’s 140th anniversary and will accommodate the addition of 122 stainless steel fermenting tanks, each dedicated to one of Inglenook’s 122 vineyard parcels. The new cave expansion is expected to be completed in time for the 2020 harvest.

Did you know? Founded in 1879 by Gustave Niebaum as Napa’s first estate winery, Inglenook boasts an illustrious heritage, a renowned legacy of innovation and an outstanding portfolio of award-winning wines that have defined and established Napa as a world-class wine region. From Gustave Niebaum to John Daniel, Jr. to Francis Ford Coppola, Inglenook’s three principal stewards have shared a strong sense of vision and an unwavering passion to create a wine estate that hearkens back to the European tradition, producing original, distinctly Napa wines that rival the best in Europe. It remains the largest contiguous estate on the famed Rutherford Bench, Napa Valley’s finest area for producing spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon.

If you want to learn more about going underground, please visit our website or contact me at rickshone@nordby.net. 

Rick Shone, President of Nordby Wine Caves

We invite you to visit us at booth #1010 during the 2019 Unified Grape & Wine Symposium  at the  Sacramento Convention Center, 1030 15th Street, Suite 100 , Sacramento California. 

Visit us to discuss compliance.

Did you know that Napa County is tightening limits on how much local wineries can grow? At this year’s symposium, the Nordby Team is looking to help Napa wineries develop a game plan for compliance by the March deadline.  Please stop by to learn more.

Booker Wines is building a new tasting room with Nordby Wine Caves in Paso Robles.  

Our underground building experts are in the process of excavating a new wine cave through a portal located east of the existing winery. Designed by Signum Architecture, this underground space will serve as both a traditional barrel storage and private event venue. 

Did you know? The winery's name Booker comes from the two orphan brothers, Claude and Dick Booker, who had purchased the land in the late 1920’s. By the turn of the century the Booker brothers had acquired over 1,200 acres on Paso's Westside. Eric and Lisa Jensen purchased 100 acres of the property in 2001 with the intent of growing the best fruit for some of the best wineries in the area. The 2005 Vintage was Booker Vineyard's first release with the wines being made by owner Eric Jensen.

If you want to learn more about going underground, please visit our website or contact Rick Shone at rickshone@nordby.net. 

As we all consider when we can go back to work, we need to ask the question: What’s your workspace strategy in a post Covid-19 environment? Does your workspace optimize space and technology to provide for a safe and healthy working environment? Will your employees, clients and guests feel comfortable in the workspace you currently have available? We speculate the physical spaces in which we conduct business have not been designed for social distancing and mitigating virus exposure risk. In this Nordby Effect post, we collaborated with Henderson Architect, Inc. to address space configurations, indoor air quality and sanitation, and minimizing potential pathogen transfer from surfaces.

Space Configurations

Social distancing will require larger hallways and circulation areas in our work environments. If larger hallways are not practical given your space, alcoves could allow for additional space between employees and patrons as they pass one another. Another idea is to install traffic directional signage to encourage one-way circulation. Other space configuration ideas to encourage social distancing include:

1. Add space or reconfigure space layouts to decrease workstation density by installing more walled offices in large open spaces;
2. Incorporate demountable partitions to provide a level of adaptability if a future situation opens different possibilities;
3. Evaluate office furniture improvements such as workstation screens, room and space dividers, individual workspaces within collaborative work areas.
4. Create outdoor, open air workspaces.

Indoor Air Quality + Sanitation

1. Install upper room germicidal ultraviolet air sanitizing systems.
2. Upgrade HVAC Systems to include in duct germicidal UV sanitization.
3. Raise computer access flooring with down draft HVAC design to pull air down through the floor and exhaust.
4. Upgrade to high efficiency filters.
5. Maximize outside air used in HVAC systems.

Concerns for Virus Transfer from Surfaces

• Install touchless technology fixtures for faucets, soap dispensers, and door hardware.
• Install motion sensing light switches.
• Install antimicrobial surfaces.
• Add cleaning stations.

Did this list spark up your own ideas on how to mitigate risk your workspace? Please share your ideas in our comments section below.

If you have questions about some of the ideas we listed above, please feel free to reach out to Jason Brown, General Manager of Custom Projects. Our extended team of architects, engineers, suppliers, and subcontractors are here to support a range of projects. Our goal is to provide the best space improvement ideas available for each of your unique spaces and we would be happy to discuss possibilities with you regarding making improvements to your space.

Start your custom project today.

Written by Zachary Rasmuson, SVP/COO of Duckhorn Wine Company 

Duckhorn Wine Company has set the standard for American fine wine for almost four decades. Today, our Duckhorn family includes Duckhorn Vineyards, Paraduxx, Goldeneye, Migration, Decoy and Canvasback. In a number of ways, meeting our business goals for growth requires partnering together with insightful and trustworthy general contractors and tradespeople on wine facility expansion projects. More specifically, engaging reliable building professionals on one or more short-term projects is mission critical to a project’s success in terms of cost, quality, and efficiency.

Waterfowl Barrel Building, Project Completion Celebration

As chief operations officer for Duckhorn Wine Company, my role is to help guide the growth of the company’s wine-making facilities while maintaining the integrity and continuity synonymous with the Duckhorn brand.  Drawing upon my winemaking experience that spans multiple appellations, brands and styles, I oversee every aspect of production including winemaking, grower relations, and production facilities in Napa Valley, Anderson Valley, Sonoma County, and Red Mountain in Washington state.  All of my efforts have one unifying theme, being a duck!

When looking for insightful general contractors, Cian Woods, Duckhorn’s vice president of asset management and facilities, brings an invaluable nuts and bolts approach. He has a wealth of experience as a mechanical engineer and construction project manager overseeing large infrastructure projects that required strong oversight of contractors and subcontractors. Fortunately, the Wine Country now benefits from his talents when he decided to make a career transition into winery operations and production. He’s run several harvests for a number of well-known brands including Saintsbury, Diageo, and Sterling Vineyards. In his sixth year of working Duckhorn, Cian is a dynamic partner. 

“As we grow in complexity, Duckhorn needs smart project teams who are honest, experienced, knowledgeable and instinctively know the Duckhorn way of doing things.”

- Cian Woods, VP of Asset Management & Facilities 

Finding reliable resources is essential for business growth. It is important for us to find likeminded contractors who treat us fairly, understand how we operate and bring new solutions. It is beneficial to have a trusted partner early on who can help offer up ideas for saving money along the way. In the case of working with Nordby Construction Company on the Goldeneye winery facility, the team delivered tangible business results for Duckhorn. The project was change order neutral and ahead of schedule. The shortened schedule provided cost-savings and allowed us to get up and running ahead of schedule.

It’s important to trust a building partner to meet project milestones. Cian says, “As we grow in complexity, Duckhorn needs smart project teams who are honest, experienced, knowledgeable and instinctively know the Duckhorn way of doing things.” Explaining further he offered up an example of working with Nordby’s Tony Simmons on Duckhorn’s Waterfowl Barrel Building, “Tony brought on a local fabricator and was able to articulate Duckhorn’s back of house focus…that was important.” Cian's role requires him to work directly with general contractors and reliability is critical for the team's success.  He says, “With every relationship, it is important for us to be able to trust. I have to be able to trust a contractor to get the job done before harvest. Milestones can become more important that cost at times.”

"It is important for us to find likeminded contractors who treat us fairly, understand how we operate and bring new ideas."

- Zach Rasmuson, COO

Balancing growth with productivity requires resources familiar with Duckhorn practices. Over the next two years, Duckhorn will require resources for four moderately large-scale projects.  This level of growth will require hiring general contractors and tradespeople who are familiar with Duckhorn building practices. It is important for us to be able to have a building partner who is able to have candid conversations and understand the nature of our business.  These interactions allow us to deepen our partnership, develop solutions, and effectively conceive a reliable plan.  We expect builders to provide regular reports on timelines and cost.  Safety is also a critical component. Ultimately, I want us to have fun with the people I work with. 

So why would we work with Nordby?  Cian explained, “One of things I really like about the Nordby team is their flexibility. They are balanced and have a high sense of customer service. At every level, they understand the relationship and do not try push their own agenda. In terms of intuitiveness, we have the right conversations at the right time.” He added, “They have a really strong team of superintendents who have a clear vision from top to bottom on what is important.  That’s really important.  Customer service is consistent at all levels.”

When it comes to working with Nordby, I find them to be trustworthy; they never come close to failing.  I’ve known Craig Nordby for many years.  He is personable and, as whole, the Nordby team is comprised of good people. 

While we now think of Sonoma County as wine country, hops initially put the region on the map. This iconic fieldstone structure now known as Landmark Vineyard’s Hop Kiln Estate was built by Italian stonemasons in 1905 and was originally used for drying and baling hops for the booming beer industry. It is said to be the most significant surviving example of a stone hop kiln in the North Coast region. Restoring the Hop Kiln Estate was a meticulous endeavor aimed at protecting the historic integrity of the landmark structure while making it safe and accessible for visitors.

The Nordby Golf Invitational was created 35 years ago by Nordby Construction and its affiliated companies. Over the years, it has grown into a most anticipated and beloved annual day of golfing and fundraising for the Salvation Army. In the past 3 decades The Nordby Golf Invitational has raised over $1.5 million for the Salvation Army in Santa Rosa. Click the links below for different ways to support those in community that need it most, and we look forward to seeing you in August! 

Register to play or become a sponsor here.

Location
St. Helena, CA  

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A new standard for boutique luxury is emerging in Napa Valley with The Elene, an extraordinary retreat concept by Mosaic Hotel Collection, known for its distinctive, inspired local experiences. Nordby Construction is honored to lead the endeavor of bringing this remarkable vision to life with uncompromising craftsmanship and detail.

Situated on 3.5 acres within the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve, this 50-room resort, including four expansive suites. The resort layout seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces to embrace the region’s natural beauty, balancing contemporary elegance with relaxed charm. Guests will enjoy a fine-dining restaurant, an all-day café, a heated pool, and a cycling program with a bike barn.

From the start, The Elene was conceived as a bespoke retreat, reflecting the sophistication of Napa’s wine country while integrating advanced sustainability practices. With this in mind, the project required a construction partner well-versed in complex hospitality builds in the region — one capable of balancing aesthetics, function, and environmental responsibility.

Enter Nordby Construction, with over 40 years of experience shaping Napa’s architectural landscape. Known for our precision in winery, estate, and hospitality projects, we bring a deep understanding of both the structural and experiential demands of high-end hospitality. Our previous work, including acclaimed vineyard estates and high-profile resort renovations, made our team a natural fit for The Elene’s ambitious vision.

Yet, building The Elene is more than crafting a beautiful destination; it’s about engineering seamless experiences. The site itself presents unique challenges, requiring careful planning to integrate the resort’s structures into the rolling landscape. Our team has orchestrated a construction process that ensures minimal disruption to the surrounding environment, employing techniques such as:

• Precision Grading & Site Integration: Adapting the built environment to Napa’s natural topography while preserving mature trees and optimizing vineyard views.
• Sustainability at the Core: Implementing water recycling systems, solar energy solutions, and locally sourced materials to reduce the resort’s environmental footprint.
• Luxury Finishes with Sustainability in Mind: Balancing high-end materials with the demands of a hospitality environment, ensuring timeless quality without sacrificing resilience.

The architectural design, led by Signum Architecture, offers a sense of flow where indoor and outdoor spaces dissolve into one another through strategic placement of glass, stone, and wood. Meanwhile, interior specialists Parts and Labor Design are crafting a guest experience that reflects modern luxury with natural textures and warm, inviting tones. Nordby’s role is to translate these conceptual details into reality, ensuring that every finish, fixture, and structural element aligns with the project’s uncompromising vision.

With every phase of construction, The Elene is taking shape as a hallmark of refined hospitality in Napa Valley, setting new standards for boutique retreats. While guests will ultimately experience an effortless sense of luxury, our team is working to ensure that every detail also stands the test of time.

When it opens its doors in 2026, The Elene won’t just be a desirable, new destination. It will gracefully represent the vision, craftsmanship, innovation, and deep regional expertise that went into bringing it to life.

Photo Credit: Render courtesy The Elene

“Cuvaison’s light-filled tasting room is an antidote to the dark, cellar-like atmosphere found at many wineries,” notes Tina Caputo in her recent article in the Press Democrat, "A Couple of Tech Guys Opened Napa’s Cuvaison 55 Years Ago. It Keeps Getting Better."

Congratulations to Cuvaison on this well-deserved recognition! For more details on this project and how our construction team helps wineries create unforgettable spaces, explore our work at Nordby Construction.

https://www.gasarchitects.com/cuvaison

https://www.cuvaison.com/los-carneros-wine-tasting

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/

Nordby Wine Caves recently partnered with Njirich & Sons, Inc., to rehabilitate Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) Tunnels 3 and 4, located northeast of Oakdale, California. OID has delivered irrigation water to 55,000 acres of farmland in the Central Valley for more than a century.

Constructed in the early 1900s, Tunnels 3 and 4 needed significant repairs to restore stability and improve water flow efficiency. Collectively spanning about 2,250 feet, the 8-to-20-foot tunnels were originally built without lining or ground support, leaving them vulnerable to erosion and structural degradation. Erosion had caused stress fractures, ground instability, and flattened tunnel crowns. To address its aged infrastructure, OID developed a Water Resources Plan (WRP) to modernize and rebuild its system to meet the needs of its changing customer base.

Nordby Wine Caves widened and reshaped the tunnels to an arch shape to improve stability of the tunnel ground and increase flow rate capacity. We incorporated shotcrete tunnel lining and cast-in-place concrete inverts to further prevent erosion and improve stability and water flow capacity.

Another key project component involved reinforcing the portal cutslopes, the sloped surfaces leading into the tunnels. Left unprotected, they were prone to erosion from water runoff which poses long-term structural risks. Our team lined and stabilized the cutslopes for additional support to withstand the area’s fluctuating water levels.

Despite a tight four-month construction window limited to the off-season for irrigation, Nordby Wine Caves executed and completed the tunnel update with precision. The construction process included close collaboration with project partners to ensure that the new design would not only restore tunnel integrity but also increase flow efficiency, safeguarding the region’s water distribution system for years to come.

We were honored to sponsor and participate in the 17th annual Harvest STOMP held at the breathtaking Viña Esperanza estate in Calistoga on August 24th. $3M was raised to support Napa Valley’s grape growers and farmworkers. Together, we’re protecting Napa Valley agriculture and empowering the next generation of farmworkers and vineyard leaders.

Don't miss the 34th Annual Nordby Golf Invitational on August 12, 2024! Enjoy a day of fun, philanthropy, golf, and fantastic prizes including the chance to win a GMC truck for a hole-in-one. This cherished tradition has raised over $1.5 million over the past three decades. This year, we're aiming to surpass $2 million! All proceeds benefit The Salvation Army to support shelter, food, and youth programs in Santa Rosa.

Register today!

Restoring Hop Kiln Vineyard is a meticulous endeavor aimed at preserving the historic integrity of this California Historical Landmark while making it fully accessible.

Located in the picturesque Russian River Valley, the iconic fieldstone structure was built by Italian stonemasons in 1905 and originally used for drying and baling hops for the booming beer industry of the early 20th century. Since 1960, the estate has served as a winery and is celebrated as one of the top ten tasting rooms in Sonoma County.

To ensure this historic gem remains accessible to all visitors, improvements have been made to the deck, main entrance, bathroom amenities, and navigation across the grounds. The restoration project also emphasizes the use of historically accurate materials, including refurbishment of the original conveyor belt machinery, though no longer functionally operational.

As Nordby Construction finalizes the project, Hop Kiln Vineyard stands as a symbol of preservation done right. The careful restoration is a culmination of excellence in craftsmanship, honoring the rich history of the estate, and modern accessibility coming together in perfect harmony. Completion is slated for June 12, 2024.

Updating a building typically involves embracing a more modern style. Not so, with the careful restoration of Hop Kiln Estate owned by Landmark Vineyards. The focus is bringing accessibility compliance to this registered California Historical Landmark while retaining optimal historical accuracy, a delicate balance that humbly demands remarkable detail and craftsmanship. Nordby Construction anticipates completion of this project in early summer 2024. Check out our latest installations! 

Amidst rolling hills and acres of vineyards, a new chapter in winemaking is being written with the construction of Arrow&Branch Winery on L’attitude Vineyard in the Oak Knoll American Viticultural Area of Napa Valley. Designed by award-winning architecture and land planning firm Taylor Lombardo Architects, the new 13,000-square-foot winery structure seamlessly blends form and function. Land planning was done by Donna Oldford, owner of Plans4Wines.

A notable feature of the state-of-the-art, white-glove winemaking facility is the innovative layout designed by winemaker Jennifer Williams for efficiency and workflow optimization to ensure the highest quality of winemaking. The covered crush area offers space for air circulation while providing protection from the elements, allowing for optimal grape processing regardless of weather conditions. The fermentation area has been strategically positioned to maximize space and ensure temperature control. With a roof peak of 42 feet, the spacious barrel storage hall offers ample room for aging and maturation and is flanked with robust, glass roll-up doors.

As the prime contractor, Nordby Construction has spearheaded this ground-up, full-production winery project with completion slated for April 2024. Throughout the construction process, attention to detail has been paramount. Every element, from the massive glulam beams supporting the structure to custom fabrication of the catwalks, has been meticulously executed to meet the highest standards. To ensure that each component is expertly crafted and installed, Nordby Construction enlisted their team of skilled craftsmen and long-standing network of trusted specialists for specific aspects of the project.

The vision of owners Steve and Seanne Contursi, Arrow&Branch Winery intentionally integrates numismatic elements, a testament to their passion for both wine and rare, historically significant coins. Benjamin Franklin quotes are featured on each cork, and the winery name itself is a nod to the emblematic design typically found on U.S. coins – an eagle clutching arrows and branches to represent peace and strength.

Incorporation of subtle details that reflect the winery’s unique identity has been central to the construction process, including a custom 5-foot weathervane installed atop the barrel storage cupola that features a classic interpretation of an eagle with telum and stipes (Latin for arrow and branch). This prominent feature proudly serves as a striking symbol of Arrow&Branch’s commitment to blending history and tradition with innovation and craftsmanship.

Once completed, the winery will house production for Arrow & Branch as well as several other small premium wine brands with a production capacity of 30,000 gallons per year. Check back for our latest project installations!

Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you well. I am thrilled to share some exciting news with you: Nordby Construction Companies has moved to a new location. Our new address is 600 Bicentennial Way, Suite 210, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

A significant milestone in our continued growth, this move is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our exceptional team and the support of our valued clients through the years. I want to express my gratitude for everyone’s commitment to reaching this exciting point in our journey.

Our new space not only better accommodates our current needs, it provides room for the expansion that we have planned and are diligently working towards. It will not only enhance our operational efficiency, but also serve as a hub for innovation and collaboration.

I am confident that our new facility will pave the way for new opportunities and further establish Nordby Construction as a leader in the construction industry. I look forward to embarking on this new chapter together.

Best regards
Craig Nordby | CEO

Nordby Construction is a proud sponsor of Harvest STOMP, honoring generations of hard work and perseverance to establish Napa Valley as the world-class agricultural region. This annual event is the sole fundraiser for the Napa Valley Grapegrowers and Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation to continue their work making a difference for Napa Valley agriculture. Mark your calendar to participate in the Harvest STOMP eAuction, opening on August 17!

Conveniently, the largest wine and grape industry trade show in North America, with over 800 exhibitors from all over the world, occurs right here in California.

Don’t miss the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, held Wednesday through Thursday at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in downtown Sacramento. Each year we look forward to these two days of collaborating about new ideas, sharing our passion for what we do best, and discussing industry trends.

Be sure to stop by the Nordby Booth #1229 to say hello and hear our insights into some of the most iconic wineries, tasting rooms, and wine caves in California.

 If you haven't yet registered yet, visit unifiedsymposium.org/registration for more information.

See you at Booth #1229!
The Nordby Team