In the picturesque hillside setting of Cormons, in the heart of Friuli’s Collio region, the Subida di Monte winery, a historic winery founded in 1967, has been given a new lease of life. Today, thanks to the vision of the agricultural company Agrotech and the contemporary approach of Studio AK Plus, the winery has been profoundly renewed, keeping its roots firmly in the territory and local traditions.
The architectural design is a perfect balance between memory and modernity: a harmony of warm materials – wood, stone, terracotta and corten steel – that blend into the landscape, enhancing its natural beauty. Large windows and terraces opening onto the hills allow the light to flood the rooms, erasing the boundaries between inside and outside and offering breathtaking views. The Locanda alle Vigne, with its central fireplace and custom-made furnishings, welcomes visitors to a refined yet authentic environment, where hospitality is expressed through simplicity and attention to detail. In the realisation of this project of excellence, Steel Group, a company specialising in made-tomeasure metal frames and furnishings, played a key role. Prominent among the works realised are the restaurant’s dramatic swinging entrance door, with a custom-made handle, and the majestic 7 by 7 metre panoramic window, made of structural extra-clear glass mounted on a single perimeter frame.
The corten wood panelling, which clad the entrance to the cellar, the restaurant area and the vinegar cellar, is elegantly integrated into the façade, while the cellar doors, clad in sheet metal and expanded metal mesh, complete the intervention with a strong visual identity. Inside, the bar counter and the copper-plated steel wine rack tell of the craftsmanship in every detail. The Subida di Monte – Locanda alle Vigne project was recently honoured at the Campidoglio in Rome, where Steel Group received the Impresa Partner award as part of the Templum 2025 Prize for Friuli Venezia Giulia. This award celebrates the perfect combination of innovation and tradition, highlighting a design capable of dialoguing with the nature of the Collio Goriziano, enhancing conviviality and promoting authentic wellbeing through the use of natural materials and surprising architecture.
