When attending a wine tasting, connoisseurs like to engage all senses in the experience, not just taste. Mike and Sandy Davis, owners of Napa’s Davis Estates winery, enlisted the help of Antique Piano Shop to give their guests a sensational sense of melodious hearing that adds to the taste and aroma of their award-winning wines.
To harmonize with the interior of the winery’s 4,000-square-foot barn-turned-tasting room, our own Michael Stinnett and skilled craftsmen refurbished a 1909 Wing & Son upright oak piano with ornate carving detail. The piano was equipped with a Pianomation Player System so guests can hear the likes of Elton John or Ella Fitzgerald tinkling the ivories while they enjoy wine at daily tastings, special events or banquets at the winery.
We enjoy sharing stories about our refurbished pianos and how our clients use them once they leave the hands of our artisans and are shipped to locations far and wide. So, we had the pleasure of talking with Mike and his team to learn how the Wing & Son piano we restored for him is shaping the way winery visitors see (and hear) the complete Davis Winery ambience.
Antique Piano Shop: How did you find out about our company?
Mike Davis: We found Michael online, and he had an overwhelming selection of inventory. We were interested in a 1909 Wing & Son piano, that was not yet restored at the time, we knew would be perfect for our environment. Michael suggested adding a digital playing unit, which we now use constantly.
Antique Piano Shop: Why did you decide to add an antique piano to the winery?
Mike Davis: Our club members experience tastings in a historic 100-year-old barn. The piano matched the ambiance and historic nature of the property.
Antique Piano Shop: What are some of the more memorable things guests have said about the piano?
Mike Davis: “WOW!” and, “Oooh, ahh!” The guests appreciate restored American iconic history, and the fact that it was used as a player piano in the early 1900s in a New York movie house is something they love to hear about when visiting.
Antique Piano Shop: How would you describe the aesthetic of the piano and the room it occupies?
Mike Davis: The piano and the barn coexist, creating a historic ambiance of understated elegance; it is rustic with a touch of Napa’s style!
Davis Estates uses its piano daily, and has even ordered a concert grand piano for another part of the winery set to open in 2015. To learn more about Davis Estates and its winery, visit the company online.
