Larkmead Winery
Also known as: Hanns Kornell Champagne Cellars
Why it's listed
Larkmead Winery is a two-story stone winery on the floor of the Napa Valley, built in 1906-07 for Felix Salmina & Co. beside the Southern Pacific Railroad. Local carpenter Wilbur A. Harrison designed it, and the stonemasons of G. Brovelli & Co. of St. Helena built it from locally quarried stone. Its 66-foot square plan and gravity-flow layout on flat ground were unusual among early California wineries, and the railroad access appears to have outweighed the lack of a hillside. The stone building replaced an earlier frame winery from about 1884. Its rail shipments to eastern markets, its Italian and Swiss-Italian stonemasonry and its craftsman builder all illustrate a significant period in Napa County winemaking. Additions followed in 1911, the 1930s and 1976 as production grew, but the original stone structure remains largely unaltered. The winery survived Prohibition and has operated as a champagne cellar since 1958, still surrounded by vineyards.
Significance in brief: The winery reflects a significant period in Napa County's wine industry: a shift in construction techniques, an expanding eastern market for California wines aided by rail, and the influence of Italian and Swiss-Italian settlers in stonemasonry and viticulture. Its square plan and flat-site gravity-flow design are uncommon. The original stone building remains essentially unchanged since 1906-07.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002215, listed February 1, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NW of St. Helena at 1091 Larkmead Lane, Calistoga |
|---|---|
| County | Napa County |
| Listed | February 1, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002215 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific dates 3/1906-2/1907) |
| Architect / builder | Wilbur A. Harrison (carpentry); G. Brovelli & Co. (stonemasons) |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Stone winery described as retaining its historical and architectural integrity. It has served as the Hanns Kornell Champagne Cellars since 1958, and the form lists the property as occupied. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 38.55907, -122.52226 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002215.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.