A 200-year-old wine cellar carved into a hillside on the Greek island of Santorini has been given new life by Capsimalis Architects.
Perched on a steep hillside in the village of Mesaria, on the edge of Santorini’s caldera, sits the result of a new project by local design studio Kapsimalis.
A neglected wine cellar, with its “underground vaulted space” and “old fixtures” still intact, has been tastefully converted into a luxury holiday home.
“The building was an old underground wine cellar, or canava, typical of rural settlements, consisting of two vaulted spaces inside, a small outdoor garden and a flat terrace above,” Alexandros Kapsimalis, co-founder of Kapsimalis Architects, told design magazine Dezeen.
Capsimalis said all of the wine cellar’s “cavities, projections and vestiges of its past” have been preserved, and its alcoves now display a small “selection of fine local wines.”
The house’s chimney has been repurposed to provide ventilation for the building, and a circular window in the bedroom floor offers a glimpse into the remains of the original wine cellar.
Photo: Yorgos Kordakis
Modern amenities like a rooftop pool, heated Jacuzzi and sun deck give the hotel a luxurious feel, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout. Kanava Cave Winery Villa is listed on booking.com from £340 per night.
In the 19th century, Mesaria was Santorini’s industrial centre and to this day is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Canavas were typically used by small wine makers, whose bottles benefited from a naturally cool and damp interior. Today, every surviving canava bears witness to Santorini’s ancient winemaking traditions, dating back 3,500 years.
Santorini’s vines are famously cultivated using the “ambelia” or “curula” technique, in which each vine is pruned into a basket shape to protect the plant from strong winds and wind-blown sand.
The finished wine is aged for a minimum of one year before being released to the market, although some Santorini wines can be aged for up to 10 years due to the mineral content of the island’s volcanic soil.
Photo: Yorgos Kordakis
The drinks industry reported in July that sales of Greek wine in the UK had increased by 277% year-on-year.
“After 18 months of intensive work in the UK market with 44 wineries, we have seen a significant increase in interest in Greek wine,” said UK campaign manager for Greek Wine Month. “Greece’s treasure trove of indigenous grapes and diverse terroirs produces wines that are truly authentic to their place, a key attribute for the UK market.”
According to data from Trend Economy, total Greek wine exports have been growing steadily, rising from $100.2 million in 2021 to $104.2 million the following year and $107.8 million last year.
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