Birch Creek Vineyards

The prime location is in the field about 150 yards NNE of the house, providing sufficient separation and privacy (for comparison, the house is about 120 yards from the barn). Site is noted with a white circle on the panoramic photos below.

• A crescent of ESE-facing gentle slope forms a natural bowl with a slight promontory in the middle where a tasting room could comfortably perch.

• The slope on the east edge of the site augments the panoramic feel and orients naturally on the Blue Mountains.

• Architectural sight lines could be designed to further focus and frame the view.

• Minimal landscaping and planting could help isolate the site from the house without either sacrificing any view.

• Approach would be directly from the west with road access via existing space between vineyard plots. Additional vineyard views to the south. Plenty of prime space for potential additional new vinyard planting on the slope around the site.

• Adequate parking space between the tasting site and the road. Lot could be informal or hard-surfaced in the future to reduce dust.

Potential Structure

Initial stage could simply provide a shaded outdoor event area, with development of a more substantial structure later. (See staged concept further down the page below.) But the wide-open situation of the location provides luxuriously expansive visual clearance around the site, making it ideally suited for a stylish, low, Northwest-modern structure. Some potential features could make the most of the the location’s exceptional attributes: positive

• East-facing situation would maximize view.

• West-facing openable clerestory windows could provide heat escape and late evening light to enjoy the sunsets without staring into them.

• The tasting area could be mostly “jewel box” with floor-to-ceiling windows on north, east, and south sides.

• Top-hung laminated beams could support an impressive cantilevered roof with deep overhangs.

• Large segments of east wall window panels could be designed to slide open during nice weather.

• Service and storage could be located on the west side of the structure to provide shade and mitigate afternoon heat.

• Roof overhangs to the north and south could provide additional shaded exterior use areas.

• No stairs would be necessary — all tasting and service areas would be completely accessible (though the east-side front slope could offer some terraced seating potential.)

• Bathroom could share a roofline but be structurally detached for privacy and separation.

• Covered breezeway between main building and bathroom could dramatically frame initial views on entry approach from parking.

• Low north-to-south concrete retaining wall could provide a slight east-west elevation change (with gentle slope entrance). This element could also form a nice visual anchor, running the full length of the interior and exterior of the structure broken only by the entrance.

• An outdoor fireplace incorporated into this wall could be a key focal point and provide pleasant ambience and heat on cool evenings.

Potential Phased-build

If necessary or desired, a phased approach could be made. With foresight and planning, the early structural elements and foundation could be used for the final phase structure, minimizing waste and final cost.

Second choice location

If there are insurmountable reasons for no using the prime location, a second option is available on the far west edge of the property. This location also has an elevation change, but it is to the west and doesn’t make use of the eastward Blue Mountains view. There is also existing vineyard that would be displaced. The potential site locations are indicated 1 and 2 on the arial view image below.