7 Overlooked Buildings: The Architecture of Wineries 🍷
National Drink Wine day gives millions of people the opportunity to bond over a glass of their favorite red, white, or rosé. One bottle of wine is the product of traditional processes, time-honored recipes, and beautiful buildings surrounded by vines. The oldest known winery, according to archeologists, is in Armenia (around 4100 BC) for grape-based wines and China (around 7000 BC) for non-grape wines.Of course, wineries have changed throughout history and cultures. We usually think of wine as the result of crushed grapes or fruits and fermentation. In fact, the reality is that the wine-making process changes for each period of time and culture. It is often missed that wineries created or adapted some of the finest architecture to showcase their vineyards and wines.
Seven Overlooked Buildings: The Architecture of Wineries
Wineries often are grande examples of architecture because they are buildings of opportunity and reuse. Abandoned, sold, or donated, wineries reflect a mixture of architectural themes or building styles that mirrors the wine. Enjoy this walk-through architectural history ... perhaps with a wine of choice. 🍷
1. Château de Goulaine
Location: France
Wine Type: Chardonnay
Built: 1000 (approx.)
Interesting Fact: "Château de Goulaine was a former castle, which had been home to the family of Marquis Goulaine for many years. Marquis Goulaine was also responsible for founding the first winery in France. Château de Goulaine is believed to be the first to launch the world’s first commercial French Chardonnay." (source)
🍷 Learn more about Château de Goulaine.
2. Castello di Brolio
Location: Italy
Wine Type: Chianti
Built: 1141 (approx.)
Interesting Fact: "Bettino Ricasoli created the modern recipe of Chianti wine; the family named firm still produces wine at Brolio." (source)
🍷 Learn more about Castello di Brolio.
3. Schloss Vollrads
Location: Germany
Wine Type: Riesling
Built: 1211 (approx.)
"Schloss Vollrads is a vineyard site documented since the Middle Ages. The estate claims to be the oldest winery in Germany, which is not verifiable, but vines have been cultivated here since Roman times. The Riesling grape is the only grape variety used in the winery." (source)
🍷 Learn more about Schloss Vollrads.
4. Clos de Vougeot
Location: France
Wine Type: Burgundy
Built: 1098 (approx.)
"The Clos de Vougeot vineyard was created by Cistercian monks of Cîteaux Abbey. The land making up the vineyard was purchased by the Cistercians, or donated to them, from the 12th century to the early 14th century. The vineyard was complete, and a wall had been built around it, by the year 1336. It served as the flagship vineyard of the Cistercians, and has been a highly recognized name for centuries." (source)
🍷 Learn more about Clos de Vougeot.
5. Codorníu Winery
Location: Spain
Wine Type: Sparkling Wine
Built: 1551 (approx.)
"In 1895 Manuel Raventós, the man who launched Codorníu on a large scale hired the art nouveau architect Josep Puig I Cadafalch (a contemporary of Gaudí) to expand the winery. The building he built symbolizes the fruitful alliance between nature and human labor and is a homage in stone to the silence of cava." (source)
🍷 Learn more about Codorníu Winery.
6. Groot Constantia
Location: South Africa
Wine Type: Shiraz & Merlot
Built: 1685 (approx.)
"The portion of the estate including Van der Stel's Cape Dutch-style manor house was sold to the Cloete family, who planted extensive vineyards and extended and improved the mansion by commissioning the architect Louis Michel Thibault. The wine cellar was added by Cloete in 1791.The house remained in the possession of the Cloete family until 1885, during which period the estate became famous for its production of Constantia dessert wine." (source)
🍷 Learn more about Groot Constantia.
7. Casa Madero
Casa Madero (source)
Location: Mexico
Wine Type: Chardonnay
Built: 1568 (approx.)
Interesting Fact: "One of the oldest wine companies in the world is not located in Europe, but in Mexico at Casa Madero. The foundation of the company is a contribution of Spain, which brought the winemaking techniques from Europe to Central America." (source)
🍷 Learn more about Casa Madero
Did we miss your favorite winery? If so, please share. Learn more about the History of Wine.
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