On the historic grounds of Zinc House Farm, the Franzia family’s newest project fuses wine, design, and sustainability—creating a destination that feels both timeless and boldly modern.
In Escalon, along a quiet stretch of Highway 120, the future of California wine country is taking shape. Clark Ferrea Winery, the newest chapter in the Franzia family’s storied winemaking legacy, is a vision for how wine, farming, and design can converge to tell a richer story about place.
Built on the historic grounds of Zinc House Farm, Clark Ferrea is a working winery, a farm, and a cultural hub rolled into one. The 10,000-square-foot arbor that greets visitors creates a dramatic threshold, framing views of the surrounding San Joaquin countryside and signaling that this is no ordinary winery visit. A monumental sculpture by British artist Conrad Shawcross anchors the landscape, offering a contemporary counterpoint to the rows of vines and farmland beyond.
Inside, designer Alexis Banks Humiston has crafted interiors that are both transportive and deeply rooted in California history. The centerpiece is a custom de Gournay wallpaper—three years in the making—that depicts a Yosemite-inspired scene in the style of Hudson River School luminists, its rose-gold accents catching the light like a Sierra sunset. The result is a tasting room that feels like a living painting, a space where past and present coalesce.
Sustainability is at the heart of the project. The winery was designed with a high-performance building envelope, advanced energy systems, and regenerative farming practices that exceed environmental standards. Beyond wine, the property features an organic produce store highlighting Zinc House Farm’s own fruits, vegetables, and flowers alongside goods from neighboring farms…