During a visit to Case Basse, Andrea Cappelli interviews Gianfranco Soldera and the architect Stefano Lambardi about the design and building of the new cellar, demonstrating the values that subtend the production of Brunello Soldera.

“Il Chianti e le terre del vino” – (Italy- Dec 2005/Jan 2006)

“The Soldera Cellar – designed by Lambardi” by A. Cappelli

“The project for the cellar at Case Basse is based on the profound relationship that man has with the landscape, which comes from the awareness of being part of the landscape, being part of a whole that is preordained. In his wine making, Gianfranco Soldera has captured the profound relationship that has always bound us to nature”. Thus the architect Lambardi, who created it, describes the plan for the new cellar as Soldera wanted it, and continues, “at Case Basse nature rules and there is no chance of changing roles and letting technology replace the real aim of every work, which is the truth”. Soldera describes his invention as “a place made for wine, a place that is traditionally found underground, like a heart, a belly that contains and welcomes something precious, to be protected with a gravity system so that the wine is never pushed by mechanical movement and is never perturbed: stones, iron, wood, no insulation or cement, it can breathe, without any kind of stagnant humidity, with a constant temperature and humidity and a functional structure”.

(for further details see the page dedicated to the new cellar in the “talking Soldera” section)

“AND” This architecture magazine defines the new Case Basse cellar as a “sancta sanctorum” where Gianfranco Soldera’s Brunello matures and materialises, underlining the bond between technique, environment and production philosophy.

“AND” (Italy – April 2005) “The wine grotto” by F. Rosseti

“The project for the new cellar at Case Basse by Stefano Lambardi reflects the philosophy behind Soldera’s wine-making: respect for the landscape, the environment and eco-compatibility.” Thus the author presents the building, lingering on the structure and materials: “Stone and corten steel. Primary building elements just as wine is the product of natural primary elements. This is a live space, able to breathe.” After describing the dry stone walls, he lingers on the fundamental fact that guarantees the wine excellent conditions for maturation, i.e. how it breathes; “the air penetrates between the stones, it filters through the ‘transparent’ walls, it circulates, flows and gathers the natural humidity of the earth.”