advertisement36 hoursby ingrid k. williams nov. 15, 2013stretching between florence and siena in the heart of tuscany, the chianti wine region is the romanticized italy of daydreams: terra-cotta-roofed towns, wine-soaked dinners and vineyards stitching sun-dappled hillsides. but hidden amid chianti's winding roads and rolling hills are some surprisingly modern attractions. there's made-to-measure fashion, new standout architecture, and contemporary art worth a detour. certainly, there are copious amounts of red wine waiting to be drunk, but don?t expect kitschy straw-wrapped bottles or pizza-parlor reds. today chianti vintners are producing excellent, nuanced wines that are worthy of these scenic surroundings.friday3:30 p.m.
1. wine structurethe antinori clan has been producing wine in the region since the 1300s, but the family company, marchesi antinori, is now planting for the future. in the fall of 2012, a new, architecturally stunning winemaking facility called antinori nel chianti classico was inaugurated. and in march, the glass-and-rusted-steel complex opened to the public for tours of its elegant cantina and grounds. the hourlong tour (20 euros, or $26 at $1.31 to the euro; by reservation) begins on an elevated walkway under the cantina's sloping terra-cotta-tiled ceiling and concludes in a glass-enclosed tasting room. there's also a small museum of artworks and wine artifacts, including an ancient wooden wine press whose design is linked to leonardo da vinci.
