Take 10 With Mark Grassi
Grassi & Associates founder Mark Grassi leads the team crafting bespoke residences and wineries that meld into the Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Barbara landscapes. A Northern California native, he opened his eponymous Napa construction firm in 1989. Grassi works with elite architects, interior designers, and discerning homeowners; their artistry and attention to detail shows in the Zen aesthetic of Michelin-star restaurant Kenzo, The Hilt Estate's agrarian style, and the contemporary elegance of Cade Estate. Mark enjoys spending time with his family, bike riding, and deciding between red or white wine when he is not on a job site.
GA: What drew you to construction?
MG: I started working construction over the summers to put myself through college in Chico. My father worked in a bank, and I had zero exposure to building anything. So it was a fascinating, strange world that I just loved. Being outside, the physicality of it all, and satisfaction at accomplishing something at the end of every day. I became so absorbed in it that I dropped out of school after my junior year and never looked back.
GA: What brought you to Napa Valley?
MG: While working in the East Bay Area, I was offered a job on a crew here in Napa. I thought I would be here only a year. That was 40 years ago.
GA: Grassi collaborates with some of the top architects in the Bay Area: Stan and Jess Field, Jim Jennings, Juancarlos Fernandez, Tom Taylor, Joshua Aidlin, Walker Warner, and the late Howard Backen, to name a few. How do different architects' styles affect how you approach a project?
MG: What is striking is the similarities between working with those particular firms. And that is the collaborative approach we have with each of them. We work as a team, and these architects know we have their backs. For example, we worked on a large, complicated residential project with Taylor Lombardo Architects. The principal architect, Pam Lao, came in one day a week and worked from the job site all day. The direct communication and problem-solving we get by working side by side are invaluable.
Casa Cielo Azul,Architect: Juancarlos Fernandez (Signum) while at Lail Design Group, Photographer: Adrián Gregorutti Photography
GA: Your firm builds both estates and wineries; what are the rewards and challenges of each?
MG: That is a great question. For years, we resisted working in the commercial building arena and only wanted to be known as custom home builders. A client we built a home for persuaded us to build their winery; it didn't hurt that Howard Backen and Nicole Hollis were on both projects. The differences are that wineries, by and large, are always extraordinarily time-driven and less emotional than residences. While everyone wants into their home as soon as possible, getting a winery up and running before a fall crush is essential. If you miss it, you lose a year and a lot of money. Fortunately, we have kept the crush schedule on every winery we have built.
GA: Grassi branched out from work in Napa and Sonoma Valley to the Santa Barbara Wine Country. How has that been?
MG: Well, that has been a very interesting experience. We would not have done something like this, but an important client for whom we built a Napa Valley winery pushed us to construct a winery for them in Santa Barbara. Again, it didn't hurt that Backen & Backen Architecture were the architects of record for both projects and that we had worked with the principal architect, Silvia Nobili, on both jobs.
GA: As an avid bicyclist, what is your favorite ride?
MG: Ok, now on to the important stuff. Every spring (pre- and post-COVID), we host a company-sponsored "Spring Social" ride and lunch. It is a 55-mile loop from our offices in downtown Napa through the Carneros region of Southern Napa, over Mount Veeder, and then back down the vine trail to our parking lot for food and wine. The ride showcases some of the most scenic landscapes in Napa Valley along primarily rural, less-traveled roads.
GA: Red or White wine?
MG: Another essential question! It is always a fascinating evolution to learn about and appreciate wines. Most people, myself included, start by drinking white wines, then evolve to red wines, but go back to enjoying the nuances and complexity of white wines, which, after all that, can be rewarding.
Mayacamas Vineyards' Estate Hospitality Center, Architect: Backen & Backen, Photographer: Josh Wells
GA: What are three things you can't live without?
MG: My Family (wife, kids, and grandchildren). My dogs (Australian Shepards). And a never-ending appreciation for trying new things.
GA: How would you define your work in three words?
MG: I would like to use five words. A few years ago, we wanted to define ourselves in five nouns and asked our superintendents and project managers to write down five that explained who we were. The words that came up consistently were excellence, commitment, distinction, innovation, and integrity.
GA: What are your hopes for 2025?
MG: We have always resisted working outside the Napa Sonoma area, but with the success of The Hilt winery in the Santa Rita Hills, we are finally considering working outside our comfort zone. We are about to start a project in the Paso Robles area for a client we are currently working with in the Napa Valley, and we are looking seriously at a project in the Rocky Mountains; this is all new for us and very exciting.
