The well-known architect will present the development of these wine "containers" over twenty centuries in an exhibition made up of over fifty panels with large-format photographs and introductory texts

17.04.2009 | 

FENAVIN is the place chosen by the highly regarded architect Diego Peris to present his exhibition "The Architecture of Wine". This is a collection of 54 panels with large photos and explanations telling of the development of winery facilities over the centuries, from when wine was stored in caves to the current carefully designed buildings. The photographs have been taken by the architect himself and by the photographer Rafael Turnes.

As Peris explains, the National Wine Fair is "a splendid place" to show his new project about this kind of buildings which, according to the creator, is a very important aspect of industrial architecture in Castile La Mancha, given the significance of the sector in the region.

The exhibition, which will be on show in the Ganímedes Pavilion, is divided into 4 sections. The first of these covers the period when wine was produced and stored in caves, "making the most of natural resources," as Diego Peris points out; this method was used for 18 centuries. A second section documents the wineries erected up to the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, using wooden, concrete and later iron structures.

The third part of the exhibition is dedicated to architecture that came about after the industrial revolution of the first quarter of the 20th century, concluding with information on a number of wineries designed according to high specifications. The final section describes the historical development of this sector and its importance within the economy and culture of Castile La Mancha.

The architect says he hopes that the exhibition will be representative of the history of this area of Castile La Mancha's industrial architecture, and points out that his selection is intended to show the architectural richness of the region in this regard. In addition, included are some panels with particularly outstanding wineries from elsewhere in the country.

Design as a reflection of winery development

For Diego Peris, wineries' current commitment to having modern and carefully designed facilities has an esthetic aspect, but it is also an indication of the fact that what is made in those facilities is a quality product. In the architect's opinion, it is something more than just having a striking image, since the modern winemaking market includes much more than just elaborating wine. It involves cultural and leisure options, which require new things such as tasting rooms and hotel facilities; therefore, "offering a suitable image is important."

The last FENAVIN tradeshow was a platform for the presentation of the book The Architecture and Culture of Wine, a tour of Castile La Mancha wineries which highlighted the importance of wine culture in this region; the publication involved two years of work on the subject by Peris.