Panoramic view of the Antinori winery in Tuscany, showing its vineyard-covered roof and modern architectural slits integrated into the rolling Chianti hillside.

Antinori nel Chianti Classico | Contemporary Landscape Architecture

The exterior of the Antinori nel Chianti Classico winery represents a profound symbiosis between the work of man and the natural environment. Designed by Archea Associati, the 50,000-square-meter structure is almost entirely embedded into the hillside, concealed beneath a tiered 'living roof' that serves as a working plot of farmland cultivated with vines.

From a distance, the building’s presence is revealed only by two elegant horizontal 'slits' or cuts that follow the natural contour lines of the terrain, allowing natural light to penetrate the subterranean production levels and offices. This landform building uses a selective palette of earth-toned materials—including local terra-cotta, wood, and Cor-Ten steel—to ensure the industrial complex harmonizes perfectly with the rolling Tuscan landscape.

A wide exterior view of the Antinori winery in Tuscany, showcasing the sleek, horizontal Cor-Ten steel structure integrated into a lush green hillside planted with grapevines.

The Antinori nel Chianti Classico winery represents a masterclass in 'invisible architecture,' where the industrial complex is almost entirely concealed beneath a living roof of vineyards. This wide-angle view highlights the dramatic horizontal 'cuts' in the earth, clad in weathered Cor-Ten steel, which serve to harmonize the massive 50,000-square-meter structure with the rhythmic rolling landscape of Tuscany.

A dramatic low-angle view of a weathered Cor-Ten steel spiral staircase winding through a circular opening in a terracotta ceiling toward a blue sky at the Antinori winery in Tuscany.

Iconic Corten Spiral Staircase | Antinori nel Chianti Classico

A masterpiece of structural engineering, this asymmetric spiral staircase serves as the visual fulcrum of the Antinori nel Chianti Classico winery. Crafted from 105 tons of weathered Cor-Ten steel, the 16.8-meter-high structure elegantly winds through a circular aperture in the terracotta-clad ceiling, sculpturally connecting the subterranean cellars to the vineyard-covered roof and panoramic terrace. Its oxidized finish harmonizes with the earthy tones of the Tuscan landscape, embodying the 'invisible' design philosophy of Archea Associati.

A dramatic perspective of the subterranean aging cellar at Antinori nel Chianti Classico featuring rows of oak barrels beneath rhythmic terracotta-tiled vaults and architectural glass viewing pods.

Antinori nel Chianti Classico | Subterranean Terracotta Barrel Cellar

The 'secluded heart' of the winery, this vast subterranean cellar is defined by a rhythmic sequence of terracotta vaults that convey a sacral, temple-like dimension. These double-height vaults are entirely lined with local Impruneta terracotta bricks, which work in tandem with the surrounding earth to naturally maintain the constant thermo-hygrometric conditions essential for the slow aging of wine. Above the barrel rows, architectural glass pods serve as suspended tasting rooms, offering a direct view into the hidden production core of the 50,000-square-meter facility.

Antinori

During my visit to Bargino, I sought to capture the profound symbiosis between Archea Associati’s industrial masterpiece and the historic Tuscan landscape. This project explores the 'invisible architecture' of the 50,000-square-meter facility, which is almost entirely embedded into the hillside and concealed beneath a working vineyard. From the dramatic 17-meter Cor-Ten steel spiral staircase to the rhythmic terracotta vaults of the subterranean cellars, my photography focuses on the natural materials and 'gravity-flow' philosophy that earned this estate the title of World's Best Vineyard in 2022.