To most, the abandoned warehouse on Hudson Street, less than a mile from the Healdsburg Plaza, looked old and dingy, with crumbling wooden walls. But to Kenwood designer Shawn Hall, it was a blank canvas, ready to be reborn as a chic new tasting room for Truett Hurst Winery.
It had been a busy time for her client, winery owner Phil Hurst, who had recently regained control of the acclaimed Truett Hurst and VML brands. He founded the labels in 2008 but sold them a decade later to Washington-based Precept Wine Co.
After reclaiming his brands, Hurst was unable to afford the ultra-pricey 24-acre Dry Creek Road estate, which included a tasting room and a 13-acre vineyard. But in partnership with Ken Wilson — owner of the expansive Wilson Wines portfolio — he relocated both labels to a new shared tasting space on Mill Street, just steps from downtown Healdsburg’s roundabout…