Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/561374
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m S e p t - O c t 2 015 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 1 0 1 pened to be in the right place at the right time, and how lucky was I? [ V&WM ] In what kind of shape was the Eshcol winery when you first saw it in the '70s? [ JT ] It looked very much like an old barn. The building was wide- open, with no dividing walls and a dirt floor. Its only residents were bats, pigeons and a few squirrels. I asked John if I could keep my horse there. [ V&WM ] What did that restora- tion involve? [ JT ] We invested in reinforcing its weak areas while keeping its architectural integrity. Being built in 1886, we thought the building was an 'original antique' that should reflect its heritage. The first major improvement was to cement the north half of the ground floor and put up a wall so we could use it for winemaking. We made 2,000 cases in our first crush year, 1973. As we grew, we were able to gradually update the rest of the building. [ V&WM ] What was your first thought when you saw it after last summer's earthquake? [ JT ] My heart was broken. I think the structure and architecture of so many wineries reflect the pro- prietors. The winery was strong, it was simple but elegant – and I think that's what we are. Of course, we didn't build the winery, we are just passing through as proprietors, but that building was and continues to be part of my heart. [ V&WM ] How is the restoration process going? [ JT ] It has begun. The contrac- tors and engineers rigged up a sys- tem to right the building so it would stand up again – a series of hydrau- lic lifts and cables throughout the building. They said they were going to do it inch by inch, and as they pulled on one cable they had to immediately check all the other areas of the winery to make sure the support structures were still there, and see how that one move- ment would be affecting the rest of the building. [ V&WM ] How did that work out? [ JT ] Because of that whole dif- The 2014 South Napa earthquake left the old winery in surreal condition.