By Jeanne Tan /asdf 07-02-2010

The name Merus in Latin means undiluted, unmixed or complete as in referring to wine.

Amsterdam-based design studio UXUS has brought their trademark touch of emotive design to the interior of a new winery in California's Napa Valley. Their design for the Merus Winery combines a heritage feel with a contemporary twist to give a sense of history and narrative to the spaces.

The main building sees a 133-year-old barn converted into the Main Tasting Room while the adjoining cave spaces accommodate the fermentation areas and events space. A dark palette forms the basis of the Main Tasting Room which is reflected in the space housing the Cave Tasting Table. In the main building a rich, matte palette of dark timber flooring, leather, original ceiling beams and black granite is contrasted with the glossiness of the table and counter top surfaces. The culture of wine-making provided inspiration for the feature, relief wall which consists of wine barrels and stacked shelf crates. Mismatched black classic chairs and custom-made oversized wood turn pedestal tables contribute a sense of eclecticism. Surrounded by shelf voids for wine bottles, a granite tasting bar provides the centrepiece of the Cave Tasting Table room. A blackboard stretching along the perimeter of the space displays the winemaker’s notes of vintages being sampled. In both spaces, a row of feature, mismatching lighting pendants creates a focus above the tables, seemingly taking cues from the forms of bottles and exotic vessels. Feature lighting continues into the subterranean Cave Events Space where three sculptural steel lanterns preside over the cavernous interior whose walls are painted in the signature red of the winery.

Photography: Dim Balsem

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