Project La Casa del Vino
Light, red cherry-flavored Sangiovese aged in tiny terracotta amphorae pairs with traditional chicken liver pâté and butter, or anchovy and salsa piccante stuzzichini. Floral, tannic Nebbiolo cultivated by hand on steep terraces pairs with porchetta from a unique recipe. These are a few of the specialties found at La Casa del Vino where locals and travelers alike have been eating in Florence, Italy since 1880.
Gianni Migliorini is the third-generation owner of La Casa del Vino. He has high standards and a detailed understanding of everything he serves; the wines must be sustainably farmed with minimal intervention in the winemaking process. The ingredients and recipes must have a historic significance in the canon of Florentine cuisine. Each of these products has a story, as do the people producing them. When they are combined into a single collection at La Casa del Vino, the sum is greater than its parts.
With the fourth generation of Migliorini moving on to other sectors, the community is at risk of losing a historic gathering place and small producers will lose a champion in Gianni, a kind man, passionate about his work and is willing to share his knowledge with anyone.
Through an extensive photographic study of the corks that Gianni has pulled for his guests, I will demonstrate the vast selection – the biodiversity – of grape varieties and wine regions represented in his curated selection. After only two months of shooting, I have the corks of 101 different wine producers, covering ten regions of Italy, three of France, and two of Germany. With time I will have many more, as guests open more bottles.
Through portraiture, I will highlight the artisans Gianni supports as well as the dedicated patrons who are as diverse as the wines in his cellar. Through audio, I will interview them about their intimate relationship with wine and with La Casa del Vino.
This investigation of the wines, producers, and patrons of La Casa del Vino, aims to demonstrate the importance of the survival of enogastronmic culture and its wider context in a global society. La Casa del Vino is a micro-study of family businesses, artisans attempting to survive while preserving traditions, and the importance of a diverse agricultural ecosystem.