Buena Vista Winery
Founded in 1857 by the visionary Count Agoston Haraszthy, Buena Vista Winery is California’s first premium winery and a living monument to the state’s winemaking heritage. Today, under the stewardship of Jean-Charles Boisset, Buena Vista celebrates its colorful history through innovation, storytelling, and an enduring passion for the craft — a testament to both its illustrious past and vibrant future.
Services
- Website Design
- Website Development
- CMS Integration
- Commerce7 Integration
- Illustration
Objective
To modernize the online presence of California’s oldest winery while preserving the romance and theatricality of its remarkable history. The former site, though rich in legacy, lacked the energy and dynamism that define Buena Vista today.
Our goal was to create a digital experience that felt alive — a modern interpretation of the Count’s adventurous spirit, the estate’s architectural grandeur, and the lively sense of occasion that fills its cellars and tasting rooms. We sought to bring heritage and hospitality into the same space, merging storytelling and commerce into one fluid story.
This was a chance to translate 160 years of California wine history into a contemporary visual language that resonates with today’s audience while honoring the timelessness of the brand.
Solution
We approached the redesign as both restoration and reinvention. Buena Vista’s story is rich enough on its own; our role was to give it structure, clarity, and relevance for a modern audience.
The new site mirrors the experience of visiting the winery itself — arriving through history, exploring the estate, and engaging with the wines. The architecture was simplified to make that journey intuitive, allowing guests to move naturally between story, experience, and commerce.
Visually, the design takes cues from the property’s character: natural stone, aged textures, and warm tones paired with modern typography and clean layouts. Subtle motion highlights the elegance of the brand without overwhelming it. The result feels genuine — a site that honors the Count’s legacy while functioning seamlessly for how people explore and shop today.
We also reimagined the wine pages to tell deeper stories. Each varietal page connects heritage imagery and concise storytelling with clear, elevated product presentation. By giving space to both history and detail, the wines feel part of a continuing narrative rather than static products.
Every design decision was made to balance respect for tradition with the practical needs of a modern digital experience — a site built to last as long as the legacy it represents.
On mobile, we focused on pacing, legibility, and sensory texture. The experience presents Buena Vista’s grandeur into elegant simplicity, allowing visitors to move seamlessly from history to wine discovery. Full-screen imagery and cinematic scroll effects evoke the same emotions on any platform, while clear navigation paths support commerce and exploration.
