The Hippest Winery In Mexico Is Made Of Recycled Boats

(NPR) - A lot of artists say they find inspiration in unlikely places. Architects Alejandro D'Acosta and Claudia Turrent, designers based in Ensenada, Mexico, most often find theirs digging through dumpsters and junkyards.

Their work, however, isn't remotely trashy. One of their latest creations, the winery in Baja's Guadalupe Valley, is sleek and totally modern. It's one of a growing number of wineries that's designed to give visitors a memorable visual experience — not just a taste of fine wine.

The vaulted ceilings of Vena Cava are made out of salvaged discarded boats from a nearby port. Some of the walls are decorated with discarded lenses from a local eyeglass factory. In addition to these distinctive emblems of place, the winery incorporates the shapes and colors of the region's natural landscape so that it almost blends in.

With their passion for reclaimed materials, the husband and wife have secured a niche designing stunning, upscale wineries and other buildings in Baja. They've designed five wineries to date, and have two more in the works.

The Mexican wine industry has been flourishing lately, prompting The Economist the Guadalupe Valley the "Napa of Mexico." D'Acosta says he and Turrent are in the right place to experiment with winery design, at the right time.