Fascinated by an ancient, almost mystical region like Umbria and by a wine of extraordinary power and longevity like the Sagrantino, the Lunelli family acquired the Tenuta Castelbuono in 2001 along with its 30 hectares of vineyards in the municipalities of Bevagna and Montefalco. The commitment initially focused on the vineyards, which are now being converted to organic farming, with new plantings and further development of the existing ones through a comprehensive clone selection project. In 2003, the Montefalco Sagrantino came to light, followed a year later by the Montefalco Rosso.

However, there was still a need for a new winery complex, and due to their long and close friendship with Arnaldo Pomodoro, one of the most significant contemporary artists, the family asked him for the design. The master enthusiastically agreed, and after the first site visit, he had the project in mind.

The “Carapace” – as Pomodoro wanted to name the winery – required about six years of work and was inaugurated in June 2012, made accessible to the public for visits and tastings. It is a unique work that challenges the boundaries between architecture and sculpture. It is the world's first sculpture in which people live and work, a unique piece where art and nature, sculpture and wine are in dialogue, emphasizing the uniqueness of both the container and its contents. At first glance, it appears as a large copper-clad dome, crisscrossed by cracks that resemble the furrows of the surrounding land. A red arrow-shaped sculpture that burrows into the ground further highlights the artwork in the landscape. Entering the “Carapace” means engaging with a sculpture by Pomodoro, as its artistic alphabet immediately announces inside. A winery by an artist for wines by artists.