Mark Nelson is no stranger to progressive thought and modern technologies. In 1988, he founded Ovid Technologies, a company which created software and databases to help electronically categorize and search through medical and academic literature. But ten years later, when he sold Ovid Technologies, Mark and his partner Dana Johnson were ready for a project with roots that were a bit older. The couple purchased a 300-acre property on St. Helena’s Pritchard Hill and opened Ovid Winery. The winery is known for it’s blend of classical and modern techniques—grapes are organically farmed, the vineyard is CCOF-certified and the winery, timeless in form, is powered by solar energy and eco-friendly.

Inside, Hollis followed suit, blending rustic materials in a sleek, modern way. She drew from the property’s natural surroundings when it came time to fashion the tasting room, stylized with a muted color palette that reflects the dramatic outdoor valley views. “When you work with landscape that is changing all the time, you don’t want to use bright colors,” Hollis says.