Restoration work on the tasting room of Chiarlo cellars in La Marra di Cerequio in the province of Cuneo (Piedmont, Italy), has taken into account the originaI architecture, in fine with the extensive restoration planned for the entire hamlet. Restoration, under the guidance of Mariano Mulazzani, has had beautiful results.

The interior was sanded to enhance the exposed bricks of the walls and vaults and to give an exciting uplift to the whole area. The designer has succeeded in using the pre-existing architecture to make the best of the three basic spaces of the cellars: the tasting area, the reception rooms and the area for storing the bottles of Barolo. In alithree rooms, importancehas been awarded to technical lighting effects created by Viabizzuno. Diffused lighting, sometimes concentrated, sometimes indirect, brings out the details of the flooring in luminescent glass and oak and of the walls and ceilings in antique terracotta and fits well with the architectural context.

Lighting comes from beautiful lamps of the same length as the table, conveying an impression of harmony between forms and materials and increases the pleasure of tasting. On the two sides of the long table are containers in satinfinished steel and a transparent glass box for tasting glasses. Of great interest is the communication area, which shows the particular features of the ground, cIods of earth being shown in glass showcases with concealed lighting. This is all on a wooden slat platform where the diffused light which plays a constant rale in the whole environment becomes the main actor. The wall of the room is a mixture of stone and brick, lit by flood lights with a square boss. [...]

An example of the right balance between form and material, tradition and innovation, the Tasting Room is a combination of earth, wood, water, light and, obviously, wine: 110
other excuse is needed for indulging all your senses on a trip to the Langhe.