SERGE SOROKKO GALLERY + MARTIN RAY TASTING ROOM
Gallerist Serge Sorokko had long contemplated combining fine art and fine wine in one venue. Now the idea has finally come to fruition in downtown Napa in a joint venture with Sonoma-based Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery. “We were thrilled to be able to merge these two intellectually and sensually connected businesses in a totally new way,” says Sorokko, who also maintains a gallery in San Francisco. Courtney Benham, proprietor of Martin Ray, adds that “as someone who loves collecting and experiencing art, the opportunity for our wines to be enjoyed inside of a fine art gallery featuring some of the best-known contemporary artists was a dream come true.” Architect Craig Steely was tapped for the 4,500-square-foot indoor-outdoor venue that itself is a work of art, including retractable glass walls and an arced steel wine bar. “Napa Valley and wine country have a definite style, but there is a secret history of art and architecture there that many people are not aware of—strong geometries, different materials, abstract forms, distinct shapes in the landscape,” Steely notes. This fall, the space will exhibit paintings by Donald Sultan. sorokko.com; martinraywinery.com