The Architecture Behind Tuscany’s Famous Wine

Allison Kennedy

This wine cellar is located at the Castello del Trebbio winery in Tuscany. It was once owned by the powerful Pazzi before they were taken over by the Medici.

Florence is home to a large and vibrant wine culture dating back centuries. The surrounding region of Tuscany has a long and storied history of winemaking. When visiting Florence, taking a wine tour is high on everyone's bucket list. While drinking the wine is fun, the architecture behind the wine cellars is also interesting to learn about. The wine cellars you can visit date back to as far as the Renaissance and the farmhouses outside still stand just as beautiful.

The architecture of Florence wine cellars reflects the city’s cultural and historical heritage. The cellars are often within historic buildings, palaces and monasteries. The cellars often feature stone walls and arched ceilings and are carefully designed for ideal wine aging and storage. The architecture also creates a captivating and timeless atmosphere.

The architecture and wine-making methods from centuries ago remain in use today. Learning how architecture works and the history of the wine allows you to immerse yourself in the world of Tuscan wine.

Renaissance Wine Cellars

The glass tube on the top of the barrel is an airlock, created by Leonardo da Vinci. It allows carbon dioxide to exit the wine barrel without oxygen exposure.

The wine cellars were commonly found in the basements of grand palaces or estates. They were also often carved into natural geological forms. They were spacious with vaulted ceilings which provided structural stability. The ceilings often were visually appealing with intricate patterns or frescoes. Hiding the wine cellars also minimized the impact on the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. The deeper the wine cellar is installed, the more protected it is from temperature change, vibrations and humidity.

The wine cellars were durable but also eye-catching. The walls and floors were often made of stone, including limestone and travertine. Others were made of stone slabs or terracotta. Thick walls helped maintain a constant temperature throughout the year, no matter the outside weather.

When you enter the wine cellar you will realize there was very little lighting and it is mostly natural light. The cellars were designed with small windows or openings near the ceilings so they were able to control the amount of light that entered the cellar. Tannins, used to create wine and give it a bitter flavor, are sensitive to light and should be kept in the dark. This also was important for ventilation to ensure proper airflow. Natural insulation and consistent temperatures were crucial in developing the architecture. Airflow was created through strategic openings, vents, or chimneys that allowed air to circulate. Some caves even had ventilation shafts or channels that opened to the outside for proper air exchange.

For the past 19-20 years, Todd Bolton has been giving entertaining and informative wine tours. He knows almost everything there is about the history of the Vineyards as well as the process and architecture of wine production and cellars.

Todd Bolton moved to Florence from California with his girlfriend, now wife. He learned Italian by taking some culture classes!

“I have a degree in anthropology so when I moved to Florence, wine culture and history were immediately interesting to me and I retained the information well. I like the mix of it all from the history and culture to the process and consumption.”

Wooden barrels or casks were used for storing wine and are typically arranged in rows. The wine barrels are used for flavor development, maturity and to store the wine before bottling. The barrels are often toasted to give the wine flavor. The barrels were meant to be smaller so the wine received lots of flavor.

Before the wine is aged, the barrels are typically toasted. This is done by heating the inside of the barrel to various levels, which imparts different flavor to the wine. Light toasting enhances fruity flavors and heavy toasting creates a smoky or caramelized notes.

Even though Todd Bolton is surrounded by wine all day, he does not like it!

“I really don’t like wine, if I had to choose it would be sparkling wine. White wines are for the summer and red wine is for the winter. Even though a certain wine may be your favorite, you should not drink it all the time. If you drink the same wine constantly, it will lose its taste. Make sure to switch it up.”

Tuscan Farmhouses

These beautiful farmhouses are found at the Castello del Trebbio and Larnano Wineries. They both contain cellars underground and host wine tours. They inform you on the wine process as well as the history of the vineyard. You can purchase wine in the houses as well as ship them anywhere in the world.

Outside of wine cellars, typically stand the beautiful Tuscan Farmhouses. They are usually built from stone and have two floors. There was usually a courtyard and annexes for different activities like threshing wheat. Around the main farmhouse, there are outbuildings, such as stables or homes for sharecroppers.

The roof usually has flat or curved tiles and the front of the house is local stone. The stone is all different sizes and irregular shapes making each farmhouse unique. The houses often include high ceilings with wooden beams, wooden shutters and iron fixtures. They have big windows to maximize natural light and beautiful views.

This beautiful view can we seen from the Locanda della Sparviero winery. If you fall in love with this winery, you can work for them over the summer and reside in their farmhouse!

The color palette of the farmhouses typically reflects the natural surroundings. They have earthy tones and blend seamlessly into the surrounding countryside. The farmhouses have the most amazing views of the countryside landscape.

Lisa Mazazaoni was born and raised in Florence and has been working at the winery for over 2 years.

Lisa Mazazaoni does every role you can think of at the Castello del Trebbio winery in Tuscany. From working as the manager to working the register, she loves it all.

“My favorite part is the process in which the grapes are pressed into wine. I loved learning about the wine aging process as well and how it is stored and aged. It is a lot of work here but I enjoy it.”

Comparison of Old and New Cellars

These are the oldest bottles that can be found at the Castello del Trebbio winery. These wine bottles have been in the cellar since the 1940’s!

While the architecture of Renaissance wine cellars remains effective, with new technologies there are some differences between old and new wine cellar architecture. Old wine cellars relied on natural insulation from the thick walls and vaulted ceilings. Now, we have access to climate control systems that can maintain an optimal temperature. We have computerized monitoring systems that allow for exact control over the cellar environment. Climate control is essential, if the cellar is too cool the aging process will be slowed down and affect the flavor.

This wine cellar has its original architecture from when it was originally built. When you enter you will realize it is chilly! The stone is able to keep the same temperature throughout the whole year even when its super hot or super old outside.

Renaissance wine cellars were constructed with stone due to the architectural style of the period. Now walls are made of concrete, insulated panels or specially designed insulated glass to provide better insulation and reduce heat transfer. Flooring materials still include stone.

The Renaissance cellars primarily used wooden racks and shelves to store the wine barrels. Modern cellars use custom-designed metal racks, modular racks and personalized solutions to allow for efficient and flexible organization of individual bottles, cases and larger formats. Wood is still used often.

Castello del Trebbio has wine that they keep in storage but do not sell. Some bottles have been kept for the owners family members for them to have when they are older.

Renaissance wine cellars needed to rely on a natural night through small openings. Modern cellars can use natural light as well as artificial lighting. LED lighting allows you to adjust the intensity and color temperature to enhance the cellar's ambiance while minimizing UV radiation that could harm the wines. Modern cellars can be put on display with glass panels so the wine can be showcased without being worried about external factors.

Renaissance wine cellars focused on architectural details and decorative elements. Wine cellars now are typically minimalistic and have a contemporary architectural approach. Now we want to emphasize highlighting the wines rather than the environment they are in. Modern cellars want to be visually appealing but mostly functional. They are designed seamlessly into homes. Most kitchens have mini wine cellars in their kitchen or dining room. They have been integrated into homes and with smart home technology that allows for remote monitoring. I wonder what the nobles would have thought of a wine cellar as close as your kitchen!

The Castello del Trebbio Winery allows your to taste 3 wines. Two red wines and one delicious white wine. Each snack pairs perfectly with a specific wine. All wines tasted are available for purchase at the store!

The architecture of wine cellars is fascinating. It is so impressive, it is still used today. You can immerse yourself in the architecture and culture by attending a wine tour. If you choose to go, prepare to taste delicious wines but also pay attention to the history and architecture of where these wines were made. Touring these beautiful cellars will make you want to move in and drink lots of wine!

You can book the Lornano and Locanda della Sparviero wine tour using this link!

https://www.viator.com/tours/Florence/Monteriggioni-Half-Day-Trip-with-Wine-Tasting-from-Florence/d519-5919P50