The Architecture of Wine

Over 8,000 years, the winery has matured from humble press to palatial retreat

The rear courtyard of Château Margaux
Château Margaux, with the signature sweeping staircase of its rear courtyard, is among the most iconic edifices in Bordeaux. (Brice Brastaad)

There are as many opinions about what makes a winery beautiful as there are wineries. But whether your personal taste favors the traditional or avant-garde, the quaint or magnificent, we can all agree that wineries rank among some of the most striking and iconic structures ever built.

We highlight a few wineries that capture the imagination, including Bordeaux’s Château Margaux, Napa’s Chateau Montelena, Tuscany’s Castello Banfi and more. More than just places to crush and ferment grapes, they are tributes to generations of vintners, celebrations of the earth, destinations for hospitality, and monuments to the wonder of wine.

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