NESTLED IN NAPA

In California, the price of on-site construction rises faster than a skyscraper. 

First comes the relentless struggle to obtain permits – which are wrapped in red tape.

Once you’ve jumped through the hoops, you’re dealing with expensive materials and even more expensive labour. After all, tradespeople need to live in Cali too.

So, when Andy Erickson needed to make room for his growing team at Favia Erickson Winegrowers in Napa, building wasn’t an option. At first, he used an old Airstream trailer as an auxiliary office. However, while they may look great on Instagram, the Airstream didn’t cut it as an office.

“It was okay,” Andy said. “It wasn’t ideal, though. It's not super airtight or temperature-controlled.”

So, he turned to DROP Structures to replace the Airstream with a Mono Mini that offered the perfect space for Ella, Director of Operations for the company,  to carve out some quiet time to take calls and get some work done.

Vagabond vignerons

Growth is always a good problem to have, even when you have to find a way to avoid sky-high construction costs. But, it wasn’t always this way.

“My wife and I have been making wine together for over 20 years,” Andy said, “but we were sort of vagabond winemakers.”

Together, the couple worked as consultants at wineries and used whatever facilities they could to craft their own wine. After 13 years pursuing their passion wherever they could, they decided it was time to put down some roots.

Taking a tour through the property, it’s easy to see why they chose the Favia Estate.. Today, the property, which is surrounded by vineyards, features an orchard of olive trees in the centre, picturesque views of the Vaca Mountains , a bountiful garden, and a cluster of buildings nestled against a small creek – including the Mono Mini.

Most of that, though, is new, or at least extensively renovated. But when Andy bought the property, it had a few old buildings, and a lot of history.

A winery with rich history

Napa wines became a sensation in 1976, when the uppity, new world wines dared to compete against the best Europe had to offer – and won. However, the history of Napa wine, and the vineyards where Erickson lives, extends back beyond that ‘70s breakthrough.

“This property was originally settled in the 1870’s, and converted into a winery in the 1880s. So it’s got some great history,” Andy said. “We bought it seven years ago, and we've been under construction the whole time, adding things to it and restoring all the old buildings.”

Those renovations include the original wine cellar they used to make wine. Today, the Favia Erickson team still uses the same cellar to create their wines – though the equipment has been updated.

During Andy and wife Annie Favia’s seven years on the property, they renovated a small outbuilding that sat next to the creek, creating space to offer wine tastings, host meetings and take business calls. 

But, as the team grew, their demand for space did as well.

Finding a home for a growing team

A few years ago, the Favia Erickson team outgrew that small outbuilding. There were simply too many people in the small space, making it hard to concentrate, and even harder to take calls.

With construction costs high, Andy started looking for alternatives to building something new. 

“When I started talking about it with my brother-in-law, he said, ‘Oh, you got to check out DROP Structures’,” Andy said. “So, I pulled it up and thought, ‘Yeah, that's it’.”

A three-month wait and a three-hour install

It took Andy two years to pull the trigger after he found DROP Structures. 

He knew he wanted one, but when he first pulled up the page he knew it was too early. Instead, he bided his time, building the perfect DROP Structure in his head. Andy narrowed it down to the mini, with a baltic birch interior and full front and back glass.

So, when he finally called up to make the purchase, it was a quick decision.

“I had been looking at it for so long anyway, I knew exactly what I wanted,” Andy said. ”So, it was pretty easy.”

With the Mini ordered and in the construction phase, all Andy had to do was move the Airstream, pour a concrete foundation and wait. Over three months, he got to see his Mono Mini being constructed through video calls, until the final call, where he got a quick tour before it was packed up and shipped out.

Then, days later, it showed up on his property, ready for installation.

“I don't think it could have gone much easier,” Andy said. “Trim the trees, set it in there and it's done. Now we just need to do a little landscaping and it’ll be finished.”

The last piece of the puzzle

Tucked up against the creek, right next to the dark, board and batten outbuilding, the Mono Mini looks like it was designed specifically for the space.

“I love the light of it. I love the look of it. It fits in well here,” Andy said.

On a clear day, the rear glass looks out onto the Vaca Mountains, while the front view is of a sun-dappled path to the main outbuilding. 

The quiet atmosphere gives employees the opportunity to step out of the hustle of daily operations, allowing them to concentrate on the task at hand, or just speak with a client quietly, without interruption or fear of interrupting someone else.