Bohlin Cywinski Jackson used engineered timber and a cantilevered roof for Caymus-Suisun Winery to create a contemporary winery with a "new architectural language for the region".For a 29-acre (11.7-hectare) site, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson – which has six offices in the US, including one in San Francisco – was charged with creating two buildings: a welcome/retail building and a tasting pavilion.

The goal was to create a relaxed atmosphere and a strong connection to the terrain, which includes orchards, vegetable gardens and vineyards.Caymus-Suisun Winery shifts the paradigm on the traditional, prescriptive approach to wine tasting, presenting a laid-back, resort-like pavilion for experiencing the wine and landscape of an undiscovered piece of California wine country.

The architecture studio placed two rectangular buildings around a central courtyard, both of which have a contemporary aesthetic that establishes a new architectural language for the regio.To the north of the courtyard is the welcome/retail centre,which is designed to offer an intimate and sheltered setting for exploring Caymus wines.

The 3,500-square-foot (325-square-metre) building holds a welcome bar, espresso counter, wine room, office, kitchen and cold storage area.Engineered timber, poured concrete and ground-face block establish "a humble yet refined atmosphere fitting for a working winery".The welcome bar, located in the entry threshold, is made of locally sourced elm and concrete.

The tasting room – which totals 5,500 square feet (511 square metres) – is a glass pavilion looking out at the landscape.All four sides have retractable glass walls and operable transom windows, enabling the building to open to the surroundings.Wood features throughout the winery's spaces.The tasting pavilion holds three distinct areas: a private tasting room on the east, a communal tasting room on the west and a casual lounge in the centre.

The communal tasting room flows onto a large terrace, where guests can sit outside and take in the scenery. The space is shaded by a large cantilevered roof that is designed to "hover weightlessly overhead while focusing views to nearby mountain ranges".In both buildings, the team incorporated artwork and handcrafted furnishings, much of it made by Californians and inspired by the agrarian landscape.