In the heart of La Rioja’s wine region, Francesc Rifé Studio's redesign of the Tritium Winery merges tradition with modernity. Situated in the town of Cenicero, the project harmonizes restoration with new construction, respecting both the winemaking craft and the region’s architectural history. The design creates a thoughtful dialogue between contrasting elements—old and new, light and dark, simplicity and complexity—inviting visitors to experience the space through a fresh lens.
At its core, the winery’s new design engages with the past while looking toward the future. The project centers on the renovation of a 15th-century building, anchoring the design in centuries-old stone and tradition. This ancient structure is paired with a contemporary addition whose charred wood façade subtly mirrors the form of a wine barrel. The dialogue between the two architectural forms is not confrontational but complementary, each enhancing the other’s presence.
Central to the redesign is the revival of the original underground cellar. Stretching 36 meters in length and plunging 7 meters deep, the cellar has been carefully reimagined through a sequence of smoked glass doors and a network of dark metal elements. Light becomes a sculptural tool, revealing different layers of the space gradually, as if unearthing the history contained within its walls. Visitors are led through distinct zones—barrel storage, tasting rooms, and a "bottle cemetery"—where the textures of oak, black steel, and burnt pine interact to craft a space designed not just for function but for contemplation. These materials were chosen not only for their aesthetic qualities but for their durability and their natural ability to contribute to the wine’s preservation.
The flow of the space is also a study in careful orchestration. The transition from the reception area into the production zone reveals the rhythms of winemaking, with the steel, ceramic, and concrete tanks visible behind a glass and lattice screen. The corridor expands into a double-height room, where a staircase leads to a mezzanine level that houses an office, a kitchen, and a multi-use space that can accommodate everything from tastings to educational workshops. Here, the staircase railing, clad in wood, doubles as a tasting counter—an element that not only serves a functional purpose but also further ties the experience of movement through the space to the process of wine appreciation.
What was once the main entrance has been reimagined as a sales and exit point, completing the circular flow of the building. The architecture reflects a quiet efficiency, where every corner serves both the needs of production and the visitor’s experience without sacrificing the building's sense of place. This careful balance of form and function results in a space that feels both rooted in its history and alive to contemporary demands.
The Tritium Winery project doesn’t simply frame the winemaking process; it enhances it, creating a space that honors the materiality of both wine and architecture. The design is not a departure from the past but an invitation to engage with it in new ways, offering visitors a tactile and visual experience that mirrors the complexity and richness of the wine itself.
