Amazing Winery Architecture And Design In Argentina

From European designs to a fusion of nature and human craftsmanship, Argentina’s wineries have transformed into exquisite temples of wine. Explore this region and its stunning architecture.

Beyond the excellent wine, what makes visiting wineries so appealing? It’s a challenging question, I know. I discovered the answer a long time ago, just as I was leaving a winery after a demanding day of work. A clear sky, vines, the Andes Mountains, and the spectacular design of the winery captivated me. I paused to take in the surrounding beauty. In that moment, I realized how lucky I was to be working in this industry, which allowed me to spend so much of my time in such magnificent places. One could feel the human element—specifically, the architect’s work—intertwined with nature.

When designing modern wineries like the one I was working at, architects were not trying to compete with nature. Instead, they tried to blend their work with the surroundings. This isn’t an easy task when designing a factory-like building which main purpose is winemaking. Yet, they managed to pull it off successfully.

Traditional European Winery Design

Most of the oldest wineries in Argentina were founded by Italian and Spaniard immigrants. As a result, the design of those buildings resembles European architecture.

Built with local materials, most of the wineries established during the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century have pitched roof, reed ceiling and thick walls made of mudbrick. The mudbrick, adobe in Spanish, isolated the interior of the building to keep it cool during the hot sunny summers.

Some examples of these architectural styles can be found in wineries such as Los Toneles and Cavas de Weinert.

Bodega Los Toneles: This winery was built in 1922 and is located in Guaymallén, Mendoza. The provincial government designated it as a historical and cultural site due to the preservation of its original architectural design by the current owners. Visitors can also view the genuine vitro windows.

Cavas de Weinert: It’s located in Luján de Cuyo. It was built in 1890 and fully restored in 2003. Its design was inspired by the Mannerist architecture.

Modern Winery Design

Since the 90s, several modern wineries have emerged in the Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo. Many of these iconic establishments were designed by the Bormida & Yanzon studio, with the goal of integrating their architectural design seamlessly into the natural landscape.

Stones, along with concrete and steel, are the primary materials utilized in constructing these buildings. Alfa Crux, formerly known as Bodega O.Fournier, and Bodegas Salentein are good examples of this style.

Alfa Crux: It was founded in 2004. At a distance, it resembles a spaceship nestled among vineyards. As you get closer, its otherworldly beauty becomes apparent. Concrete, steel and glass were employed to cause a strong visual impression, as requested by the former owner.

Bodegas Salentein: This is a huge winery founded in the 90s. It has the most beautiful cellar in Argentina— this is a bold claim considering the splendor of many other winery cellars, yet I believe many would agree. Bodegas Salentein is a pioneer in wine tourism in the region, consistently focusing on highlighting the area’s landscape and local culture.

This winery has three main structures: the production building, the visitor center and a chapel.

Gravity-fed Winemaking System

Many of these modern wineries utilize a gravity-fed winemaking system. This means that the first steps of the winemaking process, such as the selection of the grapes, begin at the upper level. The grapes are then moved down to steel, concrete or oak tanks for fermentation. Ultimately, wine is transferred further down to underground cellars, where maturation takes place. By using this system winemakers avoid or minimize the use of pumps because the grapes are gravity flowed into the tanks. As a result, the wine preserves more aromatic compounds and flavors.

This post is an introduction to winery architecture and design in Argentina. In upcoming posts, we’ll explore the experiences these wine temples offer to help you plan your next trip to Argentina’s wine regions.

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