Plant the Vine Looking like a space craft embedded in the Italian terra, the Antinori Chianti Classico winery has surprisingly deep-rooted origins. Sharon Kilby reports
On arrival at the Antinori Chianti Classico winery you may start to feel a sense of other worldliness, as the gentle rolling hills of Chianti Classico disappear, and a vast space-age façade comes into view. Having passed my security check and driven through a large tunnel, I sighted the imposing entrance of the cantina, boldly emerging from its semi-subterranean setting. I had actually driven past the gargantuan construction site hundreds of times during its transformation stages but had yet to enter this award-winning cantina since its official opening in 2012. Having secured a personal tour of the cantina I was met by super efficient
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staff who ushered me into the corporate lounge area. Here the view out over Antinori’s renowned vineyards was utterly breathtaking. The sleek contemporary lines of this architectural masterpiece magically framed a timeless scene of historic Italian enterprise. If you are a wine-lover then the Antinori name will have been on your radar for decades; in fact, it has been on the viniculture radar since 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori started the journey into the wine world. The connection between history and innovation can be found gently flowing through all the activities the family are engaged in. It is the fundamental link between the past, present and future that keeps this noble dynasty one step ahead in the ever-evolving world of wine production.
