The history of Provence—the region of southeastern France characterized by sun-soaked hills and a warm, dry climate tempered by salty ocean breezes—is steeped in winemaking. During the first century BC, upon discovering its fertile landscape and prime trading location, the Romans conquered the area, erecting numerous monuments, from arenas and temples to bridges and roadways, transforming it into a center of culture and wealth. In the small village of Taradeau, a new building for the more than century- old Domaines Ott winery, designed by Paris-based architect Carl Fredrik Svenstedt, hearkens back to this rich legacy. Its handsome limestone is extracted from the same quarry that gave rise to the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct 125 miles west.
The 45,000-square-foot building, which houses the vineyard’s production facilities as well as offices and visitor spaces, replaces the company’s previous early 20th-century building, which had a hodgepodge of additions. When Domaines Ott sold a majority stake in the business to Cristal purveyor Champagne Roederer in 2004, the opportunity to invest in a state-of-the-art premises arose. “They needed more space, and they wanted to really do it right,” says Svenstedt, “so they decided to start over completely.” The new building has about four times the winemaking capacity.
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