Wine Design

Marques de Riscal - A New Era in the World of Wine

 
"Herederos del Marqués de Riscal continues to write its history in the 21st century with the development of the “Ciudad del Vino”, a project that marks a new era in the world of wine.

Ciudad del Vino, located in Elciego (Alava), is a complex comprising the oldest winery of Rioja, the winery of Marqués de Riscal (1858) and a new building designed by the Canadian architect, Frank O. Gehry. The new complex houses a hotel, a spa of wine therapy, an exclusive restaurant, a meeting and conference center and a banquet hall.

 

Undoubtedly, the Ciudad del Vino is a 21st century chateau in which the different experiences that wine can offer may be enjoyed; a world full of living sensations.

Marqués de Riscal Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel is a true example of modernity and innovation set against the backdrop of an old, traditional winery. Its 43 rooms are fitted with the today’s most desirable luxuries. 

 
Enjoy the sensations and revitalizing properties of the wine grape. The Hotel Marques de Riscal includes a vinotherapie® spa operated by the pioneers in this kind of treatment: Caudalie.

Visitors will be able to take advantage of unique treatments that combine the benefits of mineral rich hot spring water and the extracts of the grape and wine, rich in polyphenols.

The vinotherapie® spa at the Marques de Riscal Hotel is the first in Spain, joining those in France, Italy, the United States and Taiwan. Caudalie, under the management of Matilde and Bertrand Thomas, introduced their first vinotherapie® spa in 1999, in the vineyards of Chateau Smith Aut. Laffite in Bordeaux (France).

   
 
The hotel is operated by the Starwood Hotels & Resorts group under its prestigious brand “Luxury Collection”. "

www.marquesderiscal.com

Photos and excerpt: www.marquesderiscal.com

Linne Calodo- Paso Robles, CA

I had the pleasure of visiting Paso Robles this past weekend and thanks to Chris Ann and Roger from Wine Lab in Newport Beach (www.winelabnewport.com) we had the privilege of being escorted to some wonderful wineries that we had not yet tried before. One such winery was Linne Calodo.

 

Tucked away on a private drive in a forest of oak trees and native vegetation you will find Linne Calado Winery. The winery was established in 1998 and is family owned and operated. The winery's name describes the distinctive limestone soils present on the west side of Paso Robles where all of their grapes are grown.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed by Marley, the winery dog. He made us feel right at home as we entered the intimate tasting room, which had a wonderful balance of contemporary and rustic elements. The owner is also a talented contractor who designed and built everything that you see there. I loved the mix of wood and metal used throughout. That combination of materials is always a welcomed design feature in my mind. It reminds me of the similar combination that wine barrels share and is a wonderful and subtle homage to the barrels that hold the fruits of the family’s labor. 

  

Be sure to try Sticks and Stones, a blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah, which the winery is well known for. 

www.linnecalodo.com

Photos: http://sfwine.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/dsc_0296.jpg ; http://danandassana.com/trips/paso/images/IMG_1655.jpg

Hacienda Zorita- One of Spain's Premier Wine Hotels

 

The Hacienda Zorita stands proudly over the River Tormes in Salamanca, Spain. This once Dominican monastery has a unique and fascinating past that includes being a retreat for the doctors of the University and stopping-off point for Christopher Columbus before he set off to conquer the New World. The original structure was kept in tact in its refurbishment and now has been converted into a wine hotel & country resort with 30 rooms, wine cellar and spectacular landscapes of vineyards and various facilities devoted to oeno-tourism, fine dining, wellness and a Spa.

The Hacienda Zorita Cellar

In the Durius Wine Cellar, whose vaulted ceiling in the shape of an upturned ship was built as a tribute to Christopher Columbus, the Hacienda Zorita Crianza wine matures in 1,450 barrels of American oak.

 

 

 

Durius Magíster Cellar

 

The Durius Magíster Wine-Cellar is situated in the Chapel of San Nicolás de las Viñas. 300 new barrels of ochre-coloured French Allier oak in which matures the limited-edition Durius Magíster wine for laying-down, produced only in years of exceptional quality.

The deconsecrated altar of this chapel is a work of art by Alonso Berruguete, likewise the oratory altarpiece and the 4 frescos on the walls.

www.haciendas-espana.com

Photos: http://www.splendia.com/commun/images/imageshotel/33655/01_hacienda-zorita.jpg ; http://www.cellartours.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/hacienda-zurita-capilla.jpg ; http://lh3.ggpht.com/_gPNRjJVV_Lw/StzmJ2PDKXI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/qGX7RJi9bVg/s400/zorita-cap04.jpg 

World's Largest Cork Mosaic

 

"Saimir Strati, an Albanian artist,  who created the world's largest toothpick mosaic has set another world record with a mosaic made of 229,764 corks. Working 14 hours every day over a period of 28 days, he glued 229,764 corks of various shapes and colors onto a plastic banner measuring 12.94 meters by 7.1 meters and created his art piece "Romeo with a crown of grapes playing the guitar while dancing with the sea and the sun". Amazing!"

 

Excerpt and Photos: http://www.crookedbrains.net/2008/09/worlds-biggest-cork-mosaic.html

A House Made Out of Corks

Take a look at this!

I stumbled across pictures of a house completely made out of spent corks! I am fascinated by how beautiful and artistic it is. I wasn't able to find it's location, but here are a couple of key points that I would like to share from a designer's perspective:

1. Environmentally Friendly!

Cork has always been known for its insulation properties. Plastics and other materials have since replaced cork due to cost and convenience, but the insulation properties that cork provides are outstanding. Having this house surrounded with cork can only benefit to the energy consumption inside the house. Cork is lightweight and comes from the elastic outer bark of the cork oak tree. It is known for its wax-coated cells that are air-filled and water-tight. I'm still curious how this material would hold up over time in this exterior application, but from what I do know cork is a very resilient material and can withstand quite a lot of punishment.

2. Aesthetically Pleasing

This house is absolutely stunning and unusual. Not only have they found a way to be environmentally friendly, but they've been able to do it in an artistic and pleasing way. I also love the notion of "overindulgence" in using all of these corks. The hedonistic notion of so many spent corks is in a word... outstanding!    

Photos: http://preliator1.com/house-covered-with-wine-corks/

Sabi Sabi's Earth Lodge Wine Cellar- Africa

I came across a profile of an outstanding undergound wine cellar in the heart of Kruger National Park in Africa this week and had to share it with you. Please read the excerpt below and enjoy!

"The Earth Lodge is a sanctuary symbolising a new era in luxury South African safari lodges. Sculpted into a slope of the earth, almost invisible in the landscape, the lodge uses texture, light and space to present a lodge like no other. Taking its cue from the surrounding environment, it has been described as the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa.

Earth Lodge reveals itself in a series of sensory revelations. On arrival a hidden corridor leads you down on a journey to a unique and unforgettable experience. The unexpected entrance opens to a panorama of uninterrupted bushveld. As in nature everything at Earth Lodge exists in harmony and you are immediately aware of a sense of calm and a restoring spirit. Home to 13 ultra-luxurious suites including the Amber Presidential Suite, the lodge breaks with traditional bush lodge style to create a masterpiece of artistry and innovation. Each of the suites at this luxury lodge features individually designed furniture, private plunge pool, en-suite glass fronted bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower and butler services. The natural wooden sculptures by renowned South African artist Geoffrey Armstrong add a powerful magic.

Each morning and evening you will depart from this luxury safari lodge into the wilderness, either by open Land Rover or on foot for a walking safari, accompanied by your armed and knowledgeable Game Ranger and Shangaan Tracker. Close enough to share in a thrilling encounter with Africa's beautiful wild creatures."

An indoor/outdoor dining area overlooking a waterhole and unending bushveld, a secluded library, art gallery, meditation garden; and an underground wine cellar with a collection of over 6000 bottles of rare wines, the venue for an unforgettable dining experience - everything at this luxury lodge has been created for your indulgence."

Excerpt- www.sabisabi.com

Photos: http://www.baroquetours.co.za/uploads/earth_02.jpg ;
http://www.kruger2canyons.com/images/earth_lodge.jpg ; http://www.kruger2canyons.com/images/earth_lodge_wine_cellar.jpg ; www.sabisabi.com

Castello di Amorosa- Napa Valley, CA

When driving through Napa Valley you may come across a winery that makes you feel as though you've been whisked back in time. The Castello di Amorosa (via Calistoga) is designed after 12th century medieval Tuscan-style architecture and signifies the handcrafted Italian- style wines from that region. Opening in 2007, Castello di Amorosa took over 15 years to create.

The craftsmen and artisans that were employed to create this 121,000 square foot castle & winery were held to the highest standards. Medieval designs and construction were an integral part. Ironwork was handmade and hand-forged by Italian artisan over open flames. Over 170 containers of handmade antique bricks and tiles were brought over from Europe and hand-hewn Italian doors, also brought over from Europe, weigh in at just over 1,000 pounds each. Hand painted frescos are featured in the Great Hall's coffered ceilings and are inspired by Ambrogio Lorenzetti's "Buon Governo" (Good Government) in Siena, Italy.

The Grand Barrel Tasting Room features Roman cross-vaulted ceilings and houses state of the art fermentation tanks. There are many features to the castle that are authentic to the period as well: A Church, Drawbridge, Courtyard, Watch Tower, Torture Chamber, Loggia, Deep-Well, Secret Passage Ways, and Outdoor Oven.

http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/

Photos: http://www.sftravel.com/castle-winery-napa.html

The Largest Wine Barrel in the World

  
  
In Germany, deep inside Heidelberg Castle is the world’s largest wine barrel. It holds over 58,000 gallons and stands almost 20 feet hight. To encourage partying, a staircase leads to a dance floor installed on its top so people could drink and dance all evening!

To fool people, the path through the castle leads past a beautifully made smaller barrel, with no hoops to hold it together, and at around a fifth of the volume of the true barrel that people are there to see. This smaller version could easily be taken for the famed Heidelberg Tun if you didn't know better.

Sadly the barrel spent most of its long life empty. It originally was used to hold taxes (paid in the form of wine) from the local winegrowers. Violent axe marks remain in the barrel from where Napoleon’s soldiers attempted to access the wine inside. They were unsuccessful, but ironically the barrel was empty anyway.

The panoramic views, old bridges and meandering Neckar River are glorious and highlights the prestigious location of the castle.

Opposite the barrel is a statue of an Italian man, Perkeo. As an odd-looking character he was appointed as the court jester and Keeper of the Tun. For a man of such short stature, Perkeo was legendary for his incredible consumption of wine. It is rumored that he only drank wine in his adult lifetime. He became ill when he approached his eightieth birthday and the royal doctor advised him to drink water and refrain from wine. Despite his protestations, he drank the water and died that evening in his sleep.

In Heidelberg, the castle dominates the city. Its history, splendid views, semi-ruinous state and adventurous stories only heighten the mystery of the world's largest barrel.

Photos: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2062/1896638316_c5b0d95053.jpg ; http://www.aquamoonadventures.com/Quickstart/ImageLib/Heidelberg_Castle.jpg