Let's head to the island of Samos, known for its long and rich winemaking tradition. The Metaxa house, creator of the iconic amber spirit, wanted to embrace its history by reconnecting the brand to its roots through a project designed by K-Studio.
And to tell this story, the ideal place was this ancient vineyard where Spyros Metaxas developed his precious brandy with fragrant notes of sweet muscat grape, a specialty of the Samos terroir.
Extending below the traditional village of Vourliotes, 800 meters from the sea and exposed to the north wind, the vineyard stretches across the valley on a series of enclosed plateaus. This artificial, productive landscape was created by collecting and cleverly arranging rocks to form a terraced slope, thus enabling the land to be cultivated.
K-Studio's proposal, named Liknon, combines walking and exploration by following a path along stone walls through the vineyard landscape. Instead of creating a single building as a museum, the architects have scattered the terraced valley with structures inspired by the pre-existing topography, guiding visitors through an experience that is both structured and spontaneous, full of sensory stimulation.
Exploring the different facets of the vineyard, from production processes to the pleasure of tasting, the visit unfolds in three parts and three locations. The first part, "Topos" ("place" in Greek), is a walk through stone walls, a reinterpretation of the pre-existing paths that connect the successive terraces. A deeper cut into the landscape leads the visitor underground, into a space filled with the scent of clay. There, they can observe a cross-section of the land through a glass opening, revealing the vine's growth cycle, from roots to shoots and leaves.
The second stage of the tour, "Chronos" ("time" in Greek), highlights the key ingredient in the fruit's aging process after harvest. This concept is embodied by a Metaxa cellar where the future spirit matures in oak barrels for many years, developing its unique flavors. Visitors can taste the beverage at its various stages of evolution, appreciating the diverse characteristics of color and taste, from fresh grapes to fermented wine.
The final stop is the Metaxa Bar, a space to savor the brand's finest spirits. The delicacies of Samos are generously served on the outdoor terrace, which completes the experience, with its suspended pergola woven from vines, highlighting the broader culture of craftsmanship and conviviality that permeates the Metaxa spirit.
K-STUDIO.GR
