INSPIRED by northern Italian villas, Michelini's Winery cements the family roots of pre-war Italy to the modern day. Commencing with the architecture right through to the finer interior details, the cellar door sales building is a tribute to the family heritage and to the hard work of immigrant Emo Michelini. Starting only with magazines and photos of streetscapes and typical houses from the Trentino region, designer Ross Beaver of Sunjoule Design took the challenge and succeeded.

"I started talking to the family about the authentic Italian features they wanted for the building and then combined this with the real needs of a cellar door sales facility." Mr Beaver said. "The solid two-story structure, rendered walls, the smallish windows, shutters and balconies are all typical of that region." "But as a lot of the village houses are attached and rely on each other for support, I had to modify the structure considerably for a free-standing building." "The end result I think is a practical and attractive building, with the inclusion of different design shapes complementing each other." "The front projection is designed accordingly to welcome people into the great expanse that is the sampling room: it gives the impression of an inviting entrance." "The sales area is designed to cater for a busload of people or for a small group without overcrowding and without allowing people to feel lost." "The curved counter (made from recycled hardwood from Bandiana huts) gives the room a rustic feel and unites samplers even if they are at either end." The building also includes a state of the art laboratory and second story living quarters for permanent staff.