Rockbridge Vineyard Tasting Room Acoustics

The Rockbridge Vineyard needed sound control in the tasting room where patrons relax and enjoy the products crafted at this facility. Those who run commercial wineries often wish to communicate the value and differences of the products they offer. If the customers and servers are unable to hear each other clearly, much of the tasting experience is lost.

The Rockbridge Winery began in 1988 and is located on 17 beautiful acres in Raphine, Virginia. The new tasting room is equipped with a counter that was partially created by converting an old farm silo, adding a quaint, rustic charm. Whether you hang out at the counter or at the tables, the view of the country landscape is well within sight. The completed room is 21′ x 34′ x 10′, with high ceilings, many hard surfaces, hardwood floors, and seven large windows. When large crowds would visit for tastings, this was creating some major acoustical issues. Both the customers and employees had a difficult time hearing each other and couldn’t communicate without shouting. This was creating undue stress for all involved. They reached out to Acoustical Solutions to help solve the problem.

Upon examination of the space, it was fairly obvious the course of action required. Absorption would need to be added to reduce the reverberation, but the question would be what and where to install. The seven windows, allowing patrons to enjoy the view, limited the wall space available for the placement of wall panels. So, we looked at the high ceilings in the open space above. The ceiling height would provide enough space to hang acoustical clouds. A set of three large four-foot by eight-foot Whisperwave® Ceiling Clouds were hung from the ceiling around the serving counter. This went a long way to absorb the conversation and reduce the echo being reflected off the hardwood floor and ceiling. Considering this is the central location for most of the conversation, the sound and noise are absorbed and prevented from spreading to the rest of the room. Additionally, a couple of strategically placed, AlphaSorb® Fabric Wrapped Acoustic Panels helped to improve the sound in the rest of the space.

Materials

Ceiling Treatment

• (3) 4’x8’x3″ thick Whisperwave® Ceiling Clouds in white

Wall Treatment

• (1) 2’x5’x1″ thick AlphaSorb® Fabric Wrapped Acoustic Wall Panels in Guilford of Maine FR701 Fabric 224 White
• (1) 4’x4’x1″ thick AlphaSorb® Fabric Wrapped Acoustic Wall Panels in 224 White