An Association for Ancient Wine Windows

Curious eyes can find a number of tabernacle-shaped holes carved in the centuries-old buildings of Florence, without a clear reason at first glance. The holes can be found on almost every facade in the historical center. Too low and too small for a real window, these little holes, the bucchette del vino, are of historical significance and filled an important role in medieval Florence’s wine trade.

The Association of Wine Windows (l’Associazione delle Bucchette del vino) was created in Florence in April 2016 with the mission of preserving the historical heritage of the bucchette del vino, while at the same time acquainting the modern world with their function.

These mysterious holes, usually designed next to the main entrance of the building, were the windows where the actual transaction took place. Costumers could knock on the door of the wine-producer, order the amount, and the window would serve as a counter for the exchange of the product and the money.

According to the Association’s research there are more than 130 wine windows in Florence, showing how essential these little architectural solutions were in the everyday life of Florentine people.  Most of them belonged to prominent dynasties such as the Ricasoli, Antinori, Niccolini and Martelli families, who would bring wine produced on their Tuscan estates to their homes and market it in the city using this informal manner, a forerunner to the vinaio (wine and sandwich counters).

Bucchette del Vino tries to bring the history of the wine windows to life. The Association is planning to launch events that emphasize this part of Tuscan wine culture. Collecting documents and evidences to maintain the condition of the little wine holes, they are ready to bring attention to this characteristic of the city that has been decorating Florence in the last 300 years, almost imperceptibly.  To read more in Italian, visit Florence’s La Repubblica news site.  (gréta szabó)