Valdemonjas Winery is a family owned wine-making business in the Ribera de Duero area in Spain. In 2012 we were appointed to design the new winery building. We were captivated at first sight with the landscape, its topography and the quality of the vineyards.
The building had to fulfil the following criteria:
1) technical requirements to serve wine making process
2) sustainability commitment
3) strong brand image
Integration into the existing landscape was one of our main goals.
Wine making process

The Winery is oriented on an east-west axis, using the site inclination to allow grapes to enter the building by gravity. Grape access is a key space in wine making; a covered external space was created in order for the grapes to be selected manually. The daily work of winery happens at a basement level, with a central space serving fermentation and a versatile area for washing, bottling or labeling. This is the heart of the winery as it is the centre of all movements of wine. From there, the wine ages in 2 spaces located to each side of the central space. Wine will first age in the Barrel Hall, and then will go back to be bottled in the central space. Once bottled, it will age in the Bottle Hall. Finally, the wine is brought back to the central space again to be labelled and packed, and through the Loading Bay directly into the truck.

The Barrel Hall is conceived as traditional wine caves in the area. It is a breathable brick vaulted space located underground to benefit from constant temperature and high humidity. Permeability in the Barrel Hall is achieved in its entire perimeter.

Sustainability
The project was conceived in the most absolute respect for the environment. It is an eco-sustainable winery that seeks balanced energy and water consumption, as it is not connected to the electric grid or to the main water system. The building is a compact volume that maximizes the use of passive factors for thermal.

The roof is inclined in order to collect and store rainwater with capacity for more than a year use. Photovoltaic’s panels are integrated in the Grape Access Canopy. The building is lifted from natural soil in order to allow for cross natural ventilation

Brand Image

The upper volume of the building emerges from the land, wanting to be the business card of the winery. It is clearly expressing the values that prevail in the project. It is divided in two blocks, wine-making and wine-tasting, unified by the Grape Access external covered space.
Wine Making: The block emerges from the ground as it represents the descent of the grapes to the Fermentation Tanks.
Wine Tasting: This volume has a more robust presence and is more geared to pleasures that come with wine tasting. It enjoys natural light through an oversized fully openable window, views into the vineyard and a direct connection to the Barrel Hall and Cellar underground.