Story and photo by Keith Pendleton
The newly completed Hillside Pavilion at Harmony Cellars, nearly two years in the making, adds more seating space, for things like concerts and weddings, to an existing patio and the tasting room/gift shop that is Harmony Cellars.
Up the hill from the hamlet of Harmony, the pavilion construction began in 2023 and was completed at the close of last summer.
“Countless hours of hard work, problem-solving, creativity, and, well a healthy amount of colorful language went into construction,” said Chuck Mulligan, vintner of Harmony Cellars.
The venue offers sweeping views of Harmony Hamlet next to Perry Creek and the rolling Central Coast countryside. For intimate weddings, milestone birthdays, corporate gatherings, or wine-paired celebrations with friends, the hilltop spaces provide the perfect blend of rustic elegance and Harmony charm. The setting is especially beautiful during sunset activities.
This project was a true labor of love and stubborn determination for the father and son duo, Chuck and Brian Mulligan. They asked themselves, “how hard could it be to build a seating space on the hillside next to the tasting room?” What seemed a perfectly reasonable way to start a major construction project on the sloping land generated the answer — “pretty hard!”
“There was blood (usually Brian), sweat (mostly Chuck), and tears (everyone). There were a few coarse words uttered (ok, more than a few), some lessons learned the hard way, and plenty of laughs along the journey,” the pair recalled in an interview.
There were helical piles driven more than 35 feet deep into the hillside to stabilize the foundation. Those piles supporting the floor of the pavilion are about as deep as a three-story building is tall. From there, a galvanized steel frame was erected to keep everything rock solid and resistant to the coastal elements. “All to offer our guests a million-dollar view” Chuck told Estero Bay News.
“The pavilion’s western cedar ceiling, crafted in a tongue-and-groove, gives the space a warm, rustic charm. The ceiling is paired perfectly with a metal roof that’s as sturdy as it is stylish,” Brian said. Underfoot, guests will find porcelain flooring pavers, chosen for both durability and good looks “because this isn’t just a pretty face—it’s built to last” the website states.
A so-called view rail cable railing ensures that nothing stands between guests and those stunning Harmony Valley views. Elegant lighting sets the mood — whether you’re sipping Chardonnay at sunset or toasting Zinfandel under the stars, as the website notes.
“But in the end, we couldn’t be happier with how the Pavilion turned out,” Chuck said. “It’s everything we dreamed it would be, a welcoming, one-of-a-kind space for our guests to relax, sip, and soak in the beauty of Harmony in every direction. This new Pavilion represents more than just an architectural upgrade — it’s a heartfelt addition to the Harmony Cellars experience. After all, Harmony has always been about slowing down, enjoying good wine, and appreciating the view. Now, we’ve got the perfect spot to do just that.”
A great inspiration for the pavilion is the Cellars’ Summer Sunset Concert Series. The first Friday concert is May 29 featuring SLO’s Carbon City Lights. Concerts are 5:15 to 7:15. Fifteen concerts follow with the last concert September 11 featuring Flogging Seagulls. See Summer Sunset Concert Series.
Chuck caught the “winemaking bug” on a wine tasting excursion while vacationing in Santa Ynez. To his surprise, Chuck found he was able to detect and label the aromas and flavors in the wine. So, he turned to his wife, Kim, and said, “Maybe I should start a small winery after I retire.” To which the winery attendant replied, “Why wait? Our winemaker left to study enology.” Though he didn’t know the meaning of “enology” at the time, the seed to become a winemaker was planted. Chuck and Kim talked about the prospect of starting their own winery on the ride home. Chuck could be the winemaker and Kim, with a degree in Spanish and a Master’s of Business Administration in progress, could run the business.
Just six months later, Chuck had finished Chemistry 101 B, six years after completing Chemistry 101A, and transferred to Fresno State University to complete a degree in enology, which he learned was the study of wine and winemaking. Chuck was then offered and accepted the assistant winemaker position at Estrella winery in Paso Robles just prior to graduation. Estrella was renamed “Meridian” in 1988.
One of the few technically trained winemakers in the area, chuck was regularly asked for advice and began consulting for various small wineries. These small side jobs soon turned into full time work, allowing Chuck the experience to start Harmony Cellars. With wife Kim in 1989, they produced 2,000 cases of wine in a small, rented space. Then they moved the operation to land in Harmony Valley that had been in Kim’s family for four generations.
For more information about Harmony Cellars, go to harmonycellars.com.
