We are in Maremma, a perfect microcosm stretching between the provinces of Livorno and Grosseto in Tuscany. This enchanting land is rich in history, art, culture, nature, and culinary delights. A magical, unique place, still wild and largely undiscovered. A unique feature of Maremma is the diversity of its landscape: crystal-clear sea, long beaches or rugged cliffs, mountains covered with dense forests, lake areas, plains, verdant hills, and natural thermal areas. A timeless area with roots in ancient civilizations.
In this unique setting, in Magliano, the Frescobaldi family, a winemaking dynasty dating back to 1308, created Tenuta Ammiraglia, entrusting the renowned architects Piero Sartogo and Nathalie Grenon (among their famous works, the Italian embassy in Washington, which greatly impressed Bona Frescobaldi). The estate, with its modern lines, resembles the bow of a ship pointing towards the sea of hills, ready to sail, amidst the unique brightness of this sun-kissed place, caressed by breezes from the nearby sea. It is the flagship that embarks on a journey through wine.
“A piece of land has been lifted,” explains architect Sartogo, “to create a thin, elongated slit in the natural slope of the ground. I believe the solution we found is unique: not a cellar, but a large wing of a seagull facing south, which enjoys a very particular microclimate due to its proximity to the sea. I myself didn’t think it was possible to create a completely open winemaking cellar.”
The winery is indeed very bright and welcomes the sea breezes that moderate the heat of summer days, making the best use of the natural ventilation in the area without the need for air conditioning. On the roof, made of zinc-titanium, the excavation soil from the foundations was placed and covered with vegetation—a technological solution adopted for controlling internal temperature and microclimate.
The barrel room is dug underground, topped by a wavy ceiling that, illuminated with a warm purple color, enhances the space and maintains a natural constant temperature of 18 degrees, eliminating the need for artificial climate control.
The natural setting is highly evocative, surrounded by unspoiled nature from which one can see the Argentario promontory, the island of Giglio, and the typical colors of the Tuscan Maremma.
The estate is a full expression of harmony between modern design and the untouched beauty of the Tuscan countryside. The cantilevered roof, with sharp angles, recalls the profile of a vine leaf enriched with numerous veins. The striking appearance of vegetation covering the estate, extending even over the roof, is impressive. Another exceptional feature of the structure is the way the columns that support the roof distribute the interior space. The structure was built with steel pillars, lively elements of the space, supporting the main steel beams and secondary laminated wood beams, creating a play of contrasts between contemporary and traditional, warmth and coldness, new and old. The continuous internal-external relationship is also emphasized by walls made of large glass panels framed by wooden structures.
The ultimate goal is to integrate the artificial element with the natural one, human creation with the landscape. Despite its large size—the profile stretches approximately 130 meters in length—the integration with the surrounding landscape is remarkable. When looking at it, there’s no sense of separation or opposition, but rather a feeling of continuity and perceptual harmony with the rolling landscape of the Maremma countryside.
