Hill Country Wine Cave
Architect: Clayton Korte
Location: Texas Hill Country, Texas
Type: Wine Cellar
Year: 2021
Photographs: Casey Dunn
The following description is courtesy of the architects. Located at the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country, this private wine cave serves as a destination along a secluded bend of the Blanco River. Excavated into the north face of a solid limestone hillside, this shotcrete lined tube is protected on the east and west by tall oak and elm trees, allowing it to nearly disappear within the native landscape. The unassuming exterior entry court reveals a bit of mystery as it provides just a glimpse of what lies within. Heavy limestone boulders, collected from the excavation, and lush vegetation further camouflage the entry as you descend into the mouth of the cave.
Casey Dunn 
Casey Dunn
A tasting lounge, bar, wine cellar, and restroom are all tucked into an 18’ tall x 70’ deep existing tunnel. The exterior opening of the cave is capped with a board-formed concrete portal that molds to the irregular surfaces of the limestone and structurally retains the mouth of the earth cut. The concrete is meant to patina naturally over time as native moss and ivy clings to the face and climbs onto the flanking limestone walls to further blend the headwall into its surroundings.
Once inside, a study of white oak, both raw and ebonized, mixes with vertical grain Douglas fir to panel the walls and dropped ceilings as a warm contrast to more rugged concrete and stone that surrounds. Custom insulated and thermally broken steel and wood windows provide separation between the interior and exterior, as well as the entertaining lounge and the chilled cellar. Reclaimed cedar was salvaged and milled for live-edged countertop surfaces for the tasting bar and the floating restroom vanity. “It’s like a ship in a bottle,” notes Brian Korte, FAIA, lead architect for the project. “The components of the wood insert are deliberately kept away from the existing cave walls so that the room remains adaptable.”
Casey Dunn 
Casey Dunn
Sitting under the fully arched profile at the back of the cave, the private cellar is surrounded by casework providing storage for an ever-expanding private collection of +/-4,000 bottles. This space is thermally controlled by the naturally colder subterranean temperatures with supplemental cooling to help maintain an optimal atmosphere of 55-60 degrees.
Project Details
Clayton Korte project team
- Brian Korte, FAIA, Partner
- Camden Greenlee
- Brandon Tharp
Project team
- Architecture and Interior Design: Clayton Korte
- Structural Engineer: SSG Structural Engineers
- Civil Engineer: Intelligent Engineering Services
- Lighting Design: Studio Lumina
- Mechanical Engineer: Positive Energy
- Concrete subcontractor: Dash Concrete
- Specialty steel fabrication: Fasone and Associates
- Art metalwork: Cactus Max Fine Metal Artwork
- Contractor: Monday Builders
