Le Dolci Colline Winery: Agrarian Modernism & Destination Hospitality

Project Narrative

Destination Architecture & Site Immersion

Le Dolci Colline ("The Rolling Hills") is a ground-up winery designed to bring a Napa-caliber hospitality experience to the terrain of Western Pennsylvania. The architectural challenge was to create a destination that feels deeply connected to the land, rather than simply placed upon it. David Stumpf Architecture developed a master plan that integrates the built environment with the vineyard itself, curating a guest journey that begins at the approach through the vines and flows seamlessly into the facility.

Blurring the Indoor-Outdoor Boundary

In modern hospitality design, outdoor space is as valuable as indoor square footage. The design prioritizes a massive 13,580 SF exterior program—including event terraces, intimate hideaways, and tasting patios—complemented by 8,234 SF of climate-controlled interior space.

This 60/40 ratio of outdoor-to-indoor program allows the facility to scale operations based on seasonality and event size. Large glazing systems and continuous floor finishes dissolve the threshold between the tasting room and the vineyard, maximizing the usable event footprint and ensuring the architecture serves as a frame for the landscape.

Modern Agrarian Aesthetic

The design language interprets traditional Italian "Old World" charm through a modern, experimental lens. We avoided pastiche in favor of authentic Agrarian Architecture—using robust materials, exposed structure, and site-responsive massing. The result is a facility that feels timeless and grounded, yet capable of supporting modern high-volume commercial operations, from weddings to weekend tasting crowds.