Antinori nel Chianti Classico, Toscane
architecture ©Antinori nel Chianti Classico
For more than 600 years, the Antinori family has been committed to excellence in the art of winemaking as well as a passionate patron of the fine arts. And in 2012, these “vintners in the arts” demonstrated their intention to continue these two traditions: inaugurating the spectacular Antinori nel Chianti Classico winery in October and launching the Antinori Art Project.
Designed by architect Marco Casamonti to have low environmental impact and maximum energy savings, the winery’s aesthetically original structure is part of the Toscana Wine Architecture association. Practically invisible to the eye, its facade appears as two elegant horizontal cuts in the Tuscan landscape with an impressive spiral staircase that connects the building’s three levels. Casamonti calls the winery “a sacred place of silence, a temple dedicated to the ancient rituals of winemaking.”
From the rooftop restaurant, Rinuccio 1180, guests have a panoramic view of the soft rolling hills of the Chianti Classico region. And they can enjoy menus that reflect the changing seasons as well as traditional Tuscan dishes prepared with a contemporary flair — accompanied, of course, by a wide selection of Antinori wines.
Meanwhile, the Antinori Art Project pursues the family’s art collecting tradition with a new focus on contemporary art and artists. The project is a platform for contemporary art exhibitions and installations organised by well-known curators. Exhibits include site-specific commissions under an annual programme as well as temporary exhibits and seminars organised in collaboration with the various museums and foundations. The winery also offers a number of tour options combining wine tastings with an exploration of the unique architecture, countryside and art collections.
Donnafugata Cantina Randazzo, Etna, Sicile
©donnafugatawine
Donnafugata’s Randazzo winery in Eastern Sicily offers visitors not only a great view of Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano, but also the unique chance to dine like the island’s famous fictional prince. “A Sunday Lunch with the Salina Family” is an original tasting created to celebrate the partnership between Donnafugata and the Netflix show The Leopard.
Based on Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s classic novel, Il Gattopardo, and set in Sicily, the series follows the story of Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina, a Sicilian nobleman whose family weathers the changing tides during Garibaldi’s conquest. After visiting Donnafugata’s vineyards, participants can taste five wines paired with five classics of Sicilian cuisine, inspired by the banquets in The Leopard. Readings from the novel accompany each wine, for a “multisensory experience that intertwines flavours and words.”
For a less literary experience, visitors can choose among a range of tasting options that include an exploration of the vineyard, the cellar and the barrel room such as a special brunch tasting that pairs four wines with four local cuisine creations.
There are also a number of ways to explore the area around the winery. The Footback Trail, for example, is ideal for those who want to climb up the volcano and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Just 1 kilometer long, this hike is medium difficulty but can get quite busy. The “Circumetnea” scenic railway leaving from Catania and Giarre allows visitors to enjoy the picturesque villages around Etna.
Ca’ del Bosco, Franciacorta, Lombardie
Sculpture by Igor Mitoraj at Ca’ del Bosco ©Massimo Listri
The first thing visitors notice upon arriving at Ca’ del Bosco winery is the “Cancello solare,” a large golden “Solar Gate”. Ca’ del Bosco Founder and Chairman Maurizio Zanella, who is passionate about sculpture, asked sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro to make a gate that would be an “emblematic entry into the vineyards and the whole estate.”
The winery is nestled in Lombardy’s historical region of Franciacorta is a place where “the land, art and wine come together to create something unique,” according to Ca’ del Bosco. Indeed, the region’s stunning landscapes provide an ideal setting for works of art selected by Zanella. The sculptures on display are all site-specific, created by the artists after visiting the winery with the aim of making art that interacts with the natural beauty of the landscape. Sculpture has played a fundamental role in the growth of the winery since the 1980s, building a solid reputation as a centre for art as well as wine.
Of course, the winery also offers visitors a place where they can experience unique winemaking, notably with the winery’s “grape spa” concept. This is an exclusive system for washing and drying grapes that eliminates unwanted microorganisms, fine dust particles and residue from treatments. According to Ca’ del Bosco, the wine made from these grapes when they are pressed is more intense and purer, and “expresses aromatic potential to the fullest.”
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