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Kosta Browne Moving to New Downtown Digs
Popular Sonoma winery’s move to Sebastopol facility will make it first bonded winery within city limits
Kosta Browne, the popular Sonoma producer known for outstanding Pinot Noir, is getting a new home next year. According to staff, construction will begin soon on a new winery at the Barlow, a complex for food, wine, art and wellness in the center of downtown Sebastopol.
Located in the former Barlow Apple Factory, the complex is being reinvented as a showcase for local retailers and artisan producers, anchored by Kosta Browne. Scheduled to open in the autumn of 2012, Barlow's other tenants will include Woodfour Brewing Co., Acre Coffee, Guayaki Tea, Mama Tina’s Ravioli, Bliss Bakery and a few art galleries. The location will also have parks, water features, bocce ball courts and the local farmers market.
Kosta Browne will more than double its space, from 18,000 square feet now to 45,000 square feet. Winemaker Michael Browne says the plan was to build twice as big as they thought they’d need, so they never have to move again. “We don’t have plans on using all of that space, but you never know what’s going to happen down the road,” said Browne.
While the new winery will be in a much more public spot, there is no plan to open a tasting room. Kosta Browne will continue to only be open for visits to members of their mailing list by appointment.
Kosta Browne was founded in 1997, when Browne and Dan Kosta used their saved tips from working in restaurants to buy a half-ton of grapes. Two years later they started their own commercial winery, focusing on multiple offerings of Pinot Noir made from purchased grapes sourced from throughout California. The winery made news in 2009 when it sold controlling interest to The Vincraft Group for close to $40 million.
