Centuries before Il Caggio appeared, the ancient Greeks coined a term – τέχνη (techne) – for what today we'd call 'craft'. Philosophers like Plato originally used the word disparagingly to refer to someone who worked with his or her hands. Pragmatists later revalued the term and used it to connect the two spheres of art and artisanship, the creative concept and its material realisation.
Wine-making expertise has passed down through 25 generations of the Mazzei family, making quality a legacy with very deep roots. We know only too well that art in its purest form cannot exist without the well honed artisanal techniques of its creators.
The cellar where Ipsus rests for years is the fruit of architect Agnese Mazzei's long years of experience, coordinating and encouraging the work of local craftspeople. The result is small, elegant space with details that testify to the bravura of metalworker Tommaso and carpenter Davide, both of whom live and work in the historic hamlet of Fonterutoli.
Just as man and act work in tandem to transform the highest quality materials into fine creations, so IPSUS is born of the noblest Sangiovese, nurtured first in the vines by mother nature and her humble servants, and then in the very cellar crafted by Il Caggio’s artisan hands. And so the dance continues – craft creating art, and art transforming craftsmanship.
