Marchesi Antinori Honors 600-Year Winemaking Legacy with Unique Armin Linke Commission
A new series titled “Sampling the Vineyard” asks questions about the history of viticulture and how it's been adapted for the future
The Renaissance saw the birth of many dynasties connected to the arts in Italy. Among those was the house of Antinori, whose history of winemaking dates from 1385. “Our family has always been linked to the arts,” says Alessia Antinori, who, along with sisters Albiera and Allegra, now runs the business. “Wine is art, made by artisans.”
Spanning 27 generations, that legacy lives on in their spectacular vineyards, including the one in the village of Bargino, south of Florence, where the family originally began making wine. It’s there, at Antinori nel Chianti Classico, in a dazzling contemporary building by Archea Associati, that oenology and the arts come together in the Antinori Art Project. Launched to commemorate the opening of the architectural marvel in 2012, the special endeavor commissions artists to produce works inspired by viticulture.
Over the past 14 years, nature, time, and sustainability have been among the driving concepts explored by the program’s talents. American Sam Falls utilized vegetation from the estate and water-reactive dry pigments to create a large-scale canvas that celebrates the diverse flora at Antinori. Italian sculptor and filmmaker Rosa Barba devised a massive installation titled Sun Clock (Novel) (2012), which uses a heliostat to transform a subterranean area into an enormous sundial, reminding viewers of the patience behind the winemaking process. Swiss painter Nicolas Party conceived a mural, Giant Fruits (2015), rendering produce in his vibrant palette as an ode to the still life tradition.
Now joining their ranks is Italian photographer Armin Linke, who over the course of a year visited the vineyard for extended stays to enmesh himself in every facet of production. In his series titled “Sampling the Vineyard,” curated by Ilaria Bonacossa, he applies the foundations of his artistic practice, which delves into systems of knowledge and the complex infrastructures of modern society. On display at Antinori, Linke’s new images showcase grapes drying in the sun, scientific equipment in laboratories, and books from the archive. “More than showing a beautiful landscape or the architecture, these photographs ask questions about the history of winemaking and how it’s been adapted for the future with new ideas and technologies,” says Linke.
But creating one of Antinori’s Super Tuscans requires another all-important element, and Alessia believes Linke has deftly expressed that elusive ingredient. “What is most interesting is the way in which the work captures how the artisanal and human aspect is fundamental in our process.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2026 Fall Issue under the headline “Deeply Rooted.” Subscribe to the magazine.