Antinori in the Chianti Classico: A Unique Symbiosis Between Vineyards and Architecture
As a reflection of the cultural and social significance of the region where Antinori produces its wine, the Italian wine company made it feasible to pursue through architecture, the enhancement of the environment and its unique surroundings.
Antinori in the Chianti Classico entrance at the ground level. Photo by Beatrice Gallello.
“It is a sacred place of silence, a temple of ancient grape rites, but at the same time it is a place of production that must meet certain quality requirements.”
Antinori nel Chianti Classico is a remarkable modern and iconic building that perfectly captures the vineyard's influence on Italian history and culture. Antinori, founded in 1385, is one of the largest and oldest winemakers in Italy. At first, the label was created as Chianti Classico and later reinterpreted, which elevated it from a table wine to a prestige wine. The finest example of the magnificent history of this wine and its canteen is within its architecture, created by Marco Casamonti and located in the heart of Tuscany. More specifically, Antinori in the Chianti Classico is based near San Casciano in Val di Pesa, just half-an-hour drive from Florence.
The structure was built in 2012, and, as a result, its functional aspects have become a crucial component of the evocative itinerary. Thus, the path focuses on the geomorphological experimentation of the building and represents a genuine expression of the symbiosis between anthropogenic culture: the work of man, his work environment, and the natural environment. Therefore, the fundamental and deeply ingrained connections with the land serve as the foundation for the winery's physical and intellectual structure.
Antinori in the Chianti Classico entrance in the lower level. Photo by Beatrice Gallello.
Moreover, the project aims to combine the building and the bucolic landscape. For this reason, the industrial manufacture appears to be part of the diorama through its cultivated roof. It has been transformed into a grassland narrative planted with vines and divided along contour lines by two horizontal cuts. Those cuts let light enter the internal space and give those inside a view of the landscape through the fictitious construction of a diorama. So, the canteen is enveloped within a unicum with the surrounding landscape, blurring the boundaries between the natural and the human worlds.
Antinori in the Chianti Classico helicoidal staircase. Photo by Beatrice Gallello.
Not everyone knows that the secret to the winery’s essence is that the wine is aged in barrels. This mysterious area evokes the sacred dimension of the place: hidden below the surface and located in the heart of the building, it provides the perfect thermo-hygrometric conditions for the product's long maturation. Moreover, on the one hand, the darkness and rhythmic sequence of the terracotta vaults convey this dimension, and visitors can learn about the vinification process. On the other hand, visitors are invited to fully experience the power of this space by tasting Antinori’s wines in cubic and suspended cells. Both private and attractive, these chambers enhance the experience because they not only overlook the barrel room but also bring visitors closer to the value of the wine itself.
Antinori in the Chianti Classico barrel room and tasting area. Photo by Beatrice Gallello.
Visitors are invited to walk through the ascent path, which starts from the parking area at the lower level and culminates at the winery and the vineyards at the top of the building. Alongside the path, visitors can discover the detailed process and the production of wine. Also, they are invited to have a closer look at the room in which Vin Santo is aged, the Antinori’s auditorium, the family museum, and the unique library full of books that narrate the history of both the family and their business. However, the wine-tasting areas and the sales outlet remain undoubtedly the most ambitious destinations of the proposed path.
Antinori in the Chianti Classico detail of the helicoidal staircase. Photo by Beatrice Gallello.
The use of terracotta and the wisdom of using the energy produced naturally by the earth to cool and insulate the winery create the ideal climatic conditions for the production of wine. These are just two examples of how the materials and technologies evoke the local tradition with simplicity while cogently expressing the theme of studied naturalness.
Ergo, the canteen ‘Antinori in the Chianti Classico’ is a building that represents the values of the Italian label and its constant search for uniqueness. So, it becomes a singular place that combines the savoir fair of producing wine with its extraordinary and iconic architecture. Moreover, in a world that is constantly trying its best to adopt sustainable and durable solutions to the problems that it is currently facing, this project should be taken as a model of a perfect balance between responsible architecture and the environment.
Beatrice Gallello
En Plein Air Editor, MADE IN BED