(NBBJ) - Napa-based WineDirect is spending millions on a big statement in southern Napa Valley about the Amazon-like future of direct-to-consumer wine sales, as construction starts on a large high-technology fulfillment center.

The new facility will occupy all of a 268,000-square-foot industrial building just underway at 450 Green Island Rd. in American Canyon. Madera-based Stravinski Development Group recently acquired the 10.59-acre property, and sister company Industrial Commercial Contractors started construction at the beginning of September. It is expected to be finished next summer.

“The state-of-the-art handling system will be able to handle three times the volume in half the time,” said Joe Waechter, CEO of WineDirect, after a groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 2.

WineDirect is spending $7 million alone on the automated heart of the new facility, a material-handling system by Hillard, Ohio-based Vargo, which has designed fulfillment center systems for Amazon.com and other retailers. The new facility will be the new home for WineDirect and its Napa Valley fulfillment house. It will have three times the workspace of the current fulfillment center at 125 Mezzetta Ct. in American Canyon. Corporate offices currently are at 1190 Airport Blvd. in south Napa.