What are the Florence wine windows? The Florence wine windows are characterised by their small arched windows in the side of otherwise unassuming buildings, dating back to the era of the Black Death in the Middle Ages. These tiny openings once served as a way for wine merchants to safely sell their products during times of plague and social distancing.
After the Plague swept through Florence in 1634, scholar Francesco Rondinelli wrote about one of the Italian city's coping mechanisms: tiny wine windows. These windows allowed merchants to sell wine without direct contact with customers, ensuring both parties remained safe from the deadly disease.
Between the wrath of the Black Death in the 1300s and the Italian Plague in the 1600s, wine merchants in the Italian region of Tuscany built “buchette del vino” or wine windows. These small openings became essential for selling wine while maintaining social distancing protocols during times of disease and sickness.
Italy has seen a revival of the wine window tradition, which dates back to the era of the Black Death in the Middle Ages, in Florence and the Tuscany region. These historic windows have become popular once again as a unique and safe way to serve wine to customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tuscany's wine windows, each 12 inches high and 8 inches wide, were indispensable during a 17th-century plague. They've become useful again in recent times, providing a touch of nostalgia and historical significance to modern wine enthusiasts.
If you are wandering through Florence, you might see a few random windows lining the walls of the city. They were created as far back as 1559, serving as a testament to the resilience and innovation of the Italian people during times of crisis.
Locals can now enjoy la dolce vita… or at least more vino… in Williamsburg. Please Tell Me (749 Metropolitan Avenue) is debuting an exciting wine window concept inspired by Italy's traditional buchette del vino. Customers can safely purchase wine and other beverages through the window, embracing a touch of Italian culture in New York City.
There aren't many things we enjoyed about the pandemic. But the relaxation of outdoor drinking rules might be one of the few. As wine windows make a comeback in Italy and around the world, they offer a charming and nostalgic way to enjoy a glass of wine while staying safe and socially distant.
