Rhys Vineyards
13,000 Sq. Ft Wine Cave
Rhys Vineyards Breakthrough: September 12, 2007
Only 3 short weeks after the Checkerboard Breakthrough, another company milestone was completed at the Rhys Wine Cave in Los Gatos, CA.
After tunneling for nearly 20 months under very challenging ground conditions (generated by the proximity of the Hayward and San Andreas Fault zones) combined with shallow cover (at times only 10 feet), Nordby Wine Caves successfully completed excavation and support of approximately 13,000 square feet of underground winery. The Rhys Vineyards Cave consists of tunnels of the following sizes: 13 feet wide by 10 feet high, 13 feet wide by 13 feet high, 30 feet wide by 15 feet high, 24 feet wide by 15 feet high, 26 feet wide by 15 feet high to a massive 30 feet wide and nearly 23 feet high.
The cool and foggy morning of September 12th marked the culmination of tunneling with the completion of the final “blind bore” to Portal B. Using commonly available surveying capabilities, Nordby completed the final 120 feet of barrel storage tunnel and hit the center of the previously constructed portal retaining wall within one inch of the survey mark.
Working in cooperation with our valued architects and engineers, Nordby Wine Caves procured approvals for all grading and building permits in Santa Clara County.
NY Times Dining and Wine Article - Rhys Vineyards