VGS - Chateau Potelle

Jonathan Savage, of SAVAGE Interior Design, was asked to design a tasting house for VGS Chateau Potelle, a vineyard in Napa Valley off of the illustrious Highway 29. The owner, Jean-Noel Fourmeaux du Sartel, a Bordeaux transplant, was originally sent by the French in 1976 to do wine reconnaissance in California and bring back trade secrets to his homeland. Jean-Noel could not bring himself to leave Napa so he bought a plot of land, started his own vineyard, and began his love affair with creating incredible wines. Fast forward to 2016 and you will find his established vineyard on Mt. Veeder and a tasting house just south of St. Helena. A visitor will enjoy the wines produced by VGS Chateau Potelle paired with food by Michelin starred La Toque Restaurant in a setting inspired by color, Jean-Noel’s passion for travel and French design.

VGS Chateau Potelle’s tasting house is located on the popular Napa Valley wine train route. Its yellow door has become its signature as visitors on the train would look out and comment “What a fun yellow door, let’s stop in there!” You can find the color yellow repeated throughout the property and in the VIP room where the tasting table is actually –you guessed it- a yellow door. Hence, the overall design inspiration for the tasting house can be summed up in one word: colorful. Jonathan designed custom furniture throughout, including the salmon colored, broken banquet that was inspired by a classic French bistro. Outside, the custom yellow and white stripe fabric tent covers an eating area that is perfect for a private dinner or a larger garden celebration.