Amid a rural Minnesotan landscape of cornfields and dirt roads resides an unexpected sight: A modern winery.

The main building pays homage to the surrounding barn houses while incorporating elements of wineries in Napa Valley.

Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery, located in Spring Valley, started with Vicky Vogt’s idea to bring her family together and create a business that they all could take part in.

Enlisting the help of architect John Kirk, Vogt created the modern winery of her dreams. The pair collaborated on the design, resulting in a structure which not only reflects the surrounding rural landscape, but redefines it with its modern, clean lines.

“I wanted it to be different, warm, modern and inviting.”

Vicky Vogt

We spoke with Vogt and Kirk about their vision and design process behind Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery.

What was the inspiration behind the creation of Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery?

VV: It was a reason to bring my kids home and into agriculture. Also, I like wine and I like building businesses.

How did you two find each other?

JK: I lived in Seattle for seven years prior to coming to [Minneapolis] four years ago.

When we moved here, I had a background in architecture and I was trying to start my own business. At the time, the economy was terrible. I was looking at everything out there. We ended up finding each other on Craigslist.

VV: I put out the call, 60 applicants applied and I interviewed 10 people.  We knew right away [Kirk] was our guy. He was an ideas guy. He had the same vision as us.

JK: Vicky seemed ready to go and ready to start something new. She was also into wine like I was. We had a similar vision of what the winery could be. She had a modern aesthetic.

The building’s architecture feels like it’s supposed to be there, but at the same time it has an edginess to it.

We went though couple of iterations and changed the front a couple of times before we got to the building we have today.

How have your four daughters helped get the winery running?

VV: It has been a whole family affair with our daughters, son-in-laws and my husband. All had input somewhere and brought individual skills sets to the table.

How did you two collaborate on the building’s vision?

JK: It started out with Vicky being attracted to the buildings in Sonoma and Napa. She took pictures of what she liked. We both picked out a ton of ideas along the same lines.

VV: We spent every day kicking ideas back and forth. We came together every day on different things. It was a very organic process.

What are some of the materials used on the building and why were they chosen?

JK: We used a stainless steel metal for the roof. Also, the walls are composed of two main materials: one is a horizontal metal siding as well a vertical cedar application.

The concept was to retain a warm feeling because larger buildings will tend to lose that feeling when using metal.

We chose these materials to play off of the juxtaposition of the building fitting into the landscape, but we wanted to create an edgy, modern feel with the warm wood.

Do you have a favorite architectural feature in the building?

VV: The entrance and the windows in the tasting room.

JK: Same, also the wine wall. I like the juxtaposition between rusted steel and warm wood. The right side has the wood and the wine is coming out of the wall which is both modern and traditional.

What is your favorite wine and favorite dish at the winery?

JK: The Big Boy Blend is my favorite wine and my favorite dish is whatever the chef is interested in making that day.

VV: Whatever [the chef] decides to make with food and I also enjoy the Big Boy Blend.

Discover more about Four Daughters Vineyard and Winery by visiting their website or making the trip to Spring Valley.