NEW YORK (PRWEB) – On March 25 2019, the Vino&Arte Gallery at Il Borro – an estate in the heart of Tuscany owned since 1993 by Ferruccio Ferragamo – opens its doors to visitors for a new exhibition, intriguingly entitled “Bacchus and Venus: the role of the female in wine history”. It’s a narrative journey that meanders between two mythological figures, one of whom is seen as the cause of the other in the sphere of love. The guiding theme of the exhibition, as always, is wine, considered to be the prelude to love.
Ferruccio Ferragamo’s interest in art has been long known, and is expressed in his Vino&Arte Gallery, which for more than a decade has displayed his private collection of engravings alongside a series of new exhibits.
The key figure in this new show is woman, who embodies various personalities depending on the situation. Indeed, art history allows us to see how the role of the female is not limited to a passive use of wine, but how women often conduct and direct many of the activities in which it plays a part. They are the spirit of occasions of domestic diversion which would not be the same without wine on the table; but when necessary they are also the ones who put an end to excessive drunkenness and, after the party, tidy up and bring order back to the home.
Queens of the domestic sphere, but also tireless workers in the fields, women take an active part in every stage of winemaking, from the grape harvest to selling wine at markets or fairs. However, the story of wine is also closely interlinked with occurrences in the human world; despite its connotations in Greek and Roman religion, it transcends paganism to become an essential element in Christianity as well. Wine is actually a crucial part of the rite of Holy Mass, the celebration of the Last Supper. And once again, through the lens of art, we see the female figures whose lives have been woven into the story of wine and its symbolism from the Old to the New Testament, starting with the most important of all, the Virgin Mary.
The exhibition is arranged in ten different sections (The Bacchantes – Hebe, cup-bearer of the gods – The cup-bearer among men – Ariadne, the lover of wine – Wine and lovers – The spirit of domesticity – Managing high spirits – The vine is female – Divine women – Free spirits), each of which focuses on the role of women in the history of wine through the celebration of both in art, presenting a new viewpoint to reconstruct the close ties connecting the story of humankind with what might otherwise be considered a simple drink.
The Bacchus and Venus exhibition will be at the Vino&Arte Gallery at Il Borro from Sunday 25 March 2019, and can be visited every day subject to booking (winetour(at)ilborro.it | +39 055 977053). Visits to the Vino&Arte Gallery are followed by a tour of the winery downstairs, with a tasting of Il Borro wines.
ABOUT IL BORRO
Il Borro is an estate owned since 1993 by Ferruccio Ferragamo. Involved in the running of the estate are Ferruccio’s son Salvatore Ferragamo (now CEO of Il Borro) and his daughter Vittoria (responsible for the organic vegetable garden and special projects). The estate occupies seven hundred hectares in the Valdarno Superiore basin in the heart of Tuscany. Il Borro has a strong focus on the environment and the ecosystem, and has been completely organic since 2015. It is a member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux association and it includes a fully-restored medieval village containing 38 exquisitely elegant suites; two luxury villas – La Dimora Il Borro and Villa Casetta – and the 18 suites of Le Aie del Borro, which are ideal for families or groups of friends and will be available from June 2019. In addition to the Relais & Châteaux accommodation, there are “I Borrigiani”, five country homes run as rural guest houses. Furthermore, there are two restaurants: Osteria del Borro and Il Borro Tuscan Bistro, headed by executive chef Andrea Campani; there is also a Spa and the Vino& Arte Gallery. Il Borro has a winery and 45 hectares of vineyards, used to produce the estate’s fabulous wines (12 labels, of which 10 are entirely organic); 40 hectares of olives which produce an excellent extra virgin oil; an organic vegetable garden and 30 beehives which supply several varieties of organic honey.
ABOUT RELAIS & CHATEAU
Relais & Châteaux Founded in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an association of 560 delightful hotels and exceptional restaurants run by their owners, Maîtres de Maison and independent Chefs who share a passion for their work and are motivated by their desire to establish a genuine connection with their guests. With members all over the world, from the vineyards of the Napa Valley to Provence via the beaches of the Indian Ocean, the Relais & Châteaux collection is an invitation to discover the distinctive art of living in each place and to share a journey to the roots of unique human stories. Relais & Châteaux members are united by their desire to protect, keep alive and promote the richness and diversity of cuisine and hospitality traditions all over the world. In November 2014, Relais & Châteaux presented a Manifesto to UNESCO confirming this desire and its commitment to preserve the local and environmental heritage of each place. http://www.relaischateaux.com
