The challenge. Napa Valley’s Chimney Rock winery needed new imagery for brochures and their website to convey a feeling of  a time honored, hand-crafted philosophy and dedication to excellence with the feeling of a unique sense of place and dedication to small production Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends.  The winery is housed in a dramatic Dutch Cape style building surrounded by estate vineyards in the heart of the famed Silverado District of Napa Valley.  How could I visually differentiate Chimney Rock from over 400 other wineries in Napa Valley?

The solution. The iconic architecture of Chimney Rock is unique in the valley and instantly recognizable.  I had to make photographs that clearly illustrated the architecture but had an element of drama that would read well when the photograph was reproduced in different sizes.  The secret to any location photography is looking at light and recognizing the potential.  I visited the winery several times under different weather conditions until I found the light I was looking for.  Shooting in black and white created a timeless elegance that fit the image of the winery and their style of wine.

I’ve photographed wine harvests all over the world and coming up with a new idea is next to impossible.  To emphasize the care that goes into Chimney Rock wines I concentrated on details, the hand-crafted attention from vine to bottle.