Expert View: Preserving vintage in wine art
‘‘Archiving is an insurance policy on heritage’’, Daniela Simo
Visionary, creatively analytical, and deeply attuned to how fine wine, art, science, and heritage connect, Daniela Simo is the founder, Chief Archivist, and Principal Architect of Oenological Stratigraphy, a unique approach to preserving the physical fingerprint of a vintage. At the heart of her philosophy is a simple, succinct belief: “Archiving is an insurance policy on heritage.”
Drawing on her background in corporate strategy, technology, and international development, Daniela combines an investigative mind with a reverence for wine and its ability to capture place and time. Her contemporary wine art, based on meticulously extracted components from the winemaking process, preserves the ephemeral natural remnants of a vintage – from vineyard soil, grape skins and stems to fermentation lees, pomace and crystalline tartrates. Daniela regards these elements as capturing the essence of a particular vintage and precise wine provenance, transforming them into a tangible expression of its unique identity in stunningly-crafted pieces of art that speak of every step of the vinification process.
Occupying the intersection of prestigious wine, contemporary art, scientific preservation, and wine provenance, Oenological Stratigraphy interprets each vintage as a layer of soil, climate, and weather, grape varietal, human intervention, and the transition of the seasons. Through utilizing optical microscopy combined with high-resolution digital imaging sensors, these materials evolve into monumental Master Archive Canvases, accompanied by bespoke Memory Boxes and detailed technical dossiers documenting their origins. For Daniela, each vintage represents a moment in time that can’t be repeated, physical wine heritage that can otherwise disappear forever.
Following her inaugural work in the Čachtice wine region in Slovakia, and the inclusion of Château Smith Haut Lafitte in her first 2026 Vintage Chapter in Bordeaux, Daniela now has her sights set on expanding to some of the world’s most iconic wine regions. In parallel, she’s developing relationships with wine estates and private collectors internationally, describing the latter as “patrons of viticultural heritage”. As the 2026 harvest gets underway, she spoke to Westgarth Wines about what inspired the wine science of Oenological Stratigraphy, the hidden essence of wine, and her goal to create a lasting global archive of the world’s most cherished terroirs.
Photo credit: Anastasia Brunnen Photography
The Oenological Stratigraphy works are breathtaking and very original. How do you devise the designs and color choices?
I do not use artificial pigments or paints. The color palette of every single piece is dictated entirely by the natural chemistry of the vintage itself, the deep indigo, velvety magenta, amber oxidized tones, and golden tartrates derived directly from the wine’s organic residue.
The structural designs are dictated by Oenological Stratigraphy, translating micro-mineral data, soil topography, and climatic data of the harvest year into geometric, balanced forms. The wine essentially designs itself; I simply provide the architectural framework for it to reveal its identity.
Photo credit: Radoslav Michalec Photography
Before we dive into the fascinating technical process behind Oenological Stratigraphy, to illustrate your archiving process, how did you approach your work, Danube Indigo from the Čachtice wine region of Slovakia?
Danube Indigo was born from the ancient limestone and volcanic soils of the Lesser Carpathians in Slovakia. In this work, I followed the intrinsic geometry visible within the matter itself - mapping the organic curves of the grape, the spatial topology of the soil parcel, and the crystalline geometry of the tartrates. This is why the central composition on the canvas assumes a harmonious, circular form, reflecting the natural geometry of the Danube grape. This is a newly-cultivated, Slovak red variety named after the River Dunaj (Danube).
Moving forward, I expanded this spatial mapping into the microscopic realm. Through high-resolution microscopy photography, I captured the internal structural geometry of the lees and tartrate crystals, comparing them to the original grapes. This allows me to observe and map the hidden architectural identity of each grape variety as it unfolds at a cellular level. Here is what changes with the fermentation process and where the identity remains.
Photo credit: Anastasia Brunnen Photography
Which elements are gathered and at which point in the vineyard and winemaking process – the steps you have called Genesis Extraction?
Oenological Stratigraphy maps and archives the full, living lifecycle of a vintage—from the vine canopy to the final filtration before bottling. Because these volatile materials dissipate or are discarded during production, capturing them requires systematic extraction across the following distinct seasonal milestones comprising:
- The Active Harvest: During picking, I extract raw micro-organic and structural substrates directly from the parcel: stem matrices, grape skins, seeds, canopy leaves, and wild vineyard yeast blooms.
- Fermentation & Pressing: I capture the primary byproduct fractions as they transform, including the dense fermentation lees and pomace.
- Winter Maturation and Cold Stabilization: As the wine rests and clarifies throughout the winter, I gather the crystalline tartrate deposits, natural sediments, and bentonite clay filtration media that have absorbed the wine's molecular identity before bottling.
- Crucially, a foundational part of Genesis Extraction is gathering the exact terroir soil from the specific vineyard lane of the respective grape variety.
An estate can choose to archive the complete full-cycle narrative of a vintage or focus on specific seasonal milestones. Every fraction gathered represents an unrepeatable physical footprint of that specific harvest.
How do you approach stabilization of organic material in the laboratory?
Organic matter inherently seeks decay. Wine residues rich in active yeasts, sugars, and organic acids are biologically volatile. In our laboratory, each extracted fraction undergoes a bespoke, multi-stage stabilization protocol based on its physical chemistry.
Organic solids like skins, stems, and pomace are desorbed of moisture and subjected to a proprietary bio-stabilization matrix that permanently halts oxidation and enzymatic degradation while preserving their natural color depth and structural texture. Lees and fine sediments are chemically neutralized and bound within non-degradable, inert mineral binders. Tartrate crystals are micro-encapsulated to lock their exact prismatic light-refraction properties into an eternal, stable state.
The result is a permanent, museum-grade material that maintains its visual, tactile, and structural integrity for centuries without deteriorating.
Photo credit: Oenological Stratigraphy Archive
The result of Oenological Stratigraphy is The Triptych Asset, with The Master Canvas, similar to that of Danube Indigo, being the finished piece. What are the other two parts: The Memory Box and a certified 8-Pillar Technical Dossier?
Every completed commission is structured as a comprehensive physical asset package comprising three distinct components. The first is The Master Archive Canvas or The Stratigraph. This is the primary physical work, carrying the stabilized matter and geometric mapping of the vintage on historic textile.
The Memory Box (also called The Material Codex) is a bespoke archival case containing sealed 5ml scientific glass vials holding the pure, isolated raw materials used on the canvas, including vineyard soil taken directly from the specific vine row of that grape variety. It serves as a physical, tactile library of the vintage for the patron or estate.
Finally, The Certified 8-Pillar Technical Dossier is an official provenance register containing the historical heritage of the wine estate, detailed terroir analysis, my technical report, and official verification signatures from both the chief Oenologist and the vineyard managers certifying the point of extraction. Every single material fraction is assigned its own permanent archive code within our master library.
Can you tell us about the related Candescent Philosophical Movement you have founded?
Candescence—derived from the Latin candescere, meaning "to begin to shine or glow". It is the philosophy of revealing the hidden, internal life force within matter. Since ancient times, wine has been a profound metaphor for human life, transition, and spirit. As Chief Archivist, I do not "create" or "add" value to these materials; the value is already inherently there. I merely bring forth the fleeting, hidden energy that has always existed within the winemaking process. For instance, during my research, I observed how Pinot Gris insists on leaving an indelible "pink blush" identity mark across various materials and stages of maturation. It is a subtle, metaphysical signature that is usually overlooked. Candescence is about observing what was previously unseen. Every Technical Dossier includes a dedicated treatise on Candescence, capturing these rare, observed nuances of the vintage's living identity.
Photo credit: Radoslav Michalec Photography
So fascinating! With the process in mind, how did you find the Čachtice wine archiving experience?
Čachtice was my foundational proving ground. I was deeply supported by the local wine producer Čachtické Chotáre, who generously granted me access to the upper level of their facilities for several months.
Working in cellars where the infamous Countess Elisabeth Báthory produced her wines in the 13th century (and are still produced to this day), created a profound sense of historical continuity. Daily conversations with winemakers, trips to the vineyard rows, and spontaneous interactions with curious visitors who stopped by our studio space immensely refined our positioning. The project sparked a great deal of regional interest, leading to academic engagements and presentations with local universities, as well as private wine tastings where our canvases added an entirely new, tactile dimension to the sensory experience of wine.
More generally, how did you come to Oenological Stratigraphy? What is your relationship with wine and art?
My path combines corporate strategy, technology, and international development with a deep, personal passion for fine wine, its rich history, and its celebration of life. My background in strategy conditioned me to analyze systems, structural value, and asset preservation.
My entry into art came from searching for an expression of existence that I could not verbalize. I wanted to work with natural media, and wine offered a breathtaking spectrum of organic colors. However, as I discovered the depth of these raw materials, my analytical background naturally asserted itself. I realized these physical residues needed to be stabilized, scientifically structured, and formally documented into a legitimate, lasting asset class. It was a synthesis of my strategic mind and my search for deeper metaphysical meaning.
Returning to the winemaking environment, vineyards and wineries are very delicate, sensitive places. How do you ensure that your presence doesn’t influence the intricate balance of these environments while you create the vintage archive?
Respect for the sanctity of the cellar and vineyard is paramount. I practice a Zero-Impact Protocol, which is completely non-intrusive. I don’t bring external chemicals or apparatus into the winery. Extraction takes only minutes and involves taking sediments or materials directly from existing cellar vessels, pressing equipment, or filtration units during routine winemaking steps. All stabilization and scientific mapping occur entirely off-site in our dedicated laboratory. I adapt completely to the winemaker’s schedule, operating as a silent observer and archivist.
There are good years and bad years in winemaking. What do you think the value proposition is for a winery to commission an Oenological Stratigraphy work before they know that a vintage will be historic?
First, terroir archiving cannot be done in retrospect. You cannot decide three years later to collect the raw fermentation lees, filtration crystals, or canopy skins of a past harvest. Those materials are gone forever. Archiving is an insurance policy on heritage.
Second, we offer flexible institutional engagement. A winery can engage us simply to collect, stabilize, and build their permanent Material Archive Library during harvest. This secures the physical DNA of the vintage immediately, allowing the estate or future private collectors to commission Master Canvases from those archived holdings at a later date.
Photo credit: Anastasia Brunnen Photography
If a private collector wants to commission such an artwork, what are the options?
Private art and wine collectors act as true patrons of viticultural heritage and oenological decisions. A collector can select a specific vineyard, grape variety, or vintage that holds personal significance. During our initial consultation, we establish the scope and bespoke arrangement, for example:
- A Varietal/Wine Archive (typically 60cm x 90cm), focusing on specific grape varieties or a winemaker’s wine that includes blends of varieties.
- A Master Archive Canvas (typically 200cm x 120cm), representing a monumental synthesis of the estate's entire vineyard and harvest year.
We facilitate access with the winery, extract the physical matter during the cycle, and deliver the complete Triptych Asset directly to the patron's private collection.
What sort of interest are you garnering from wineries and private collectors for Oenological Stratigraphy?
The reception has been exceptionally inspiring. Beyond integrating Château Smith Haut Lafitte into our inaugural 2026 Vintage Chapter in Bordeaux, we are currently in active dialogues with premier estates across France and Italy.
Since this is a brand-new asset class at the intersection of science, art, and fine wine provenance, building these institutional collaborations takes time and careful alignment. However, collectors and estate principals alike are recognizing the unprecedented value of owning an unrepeatable physical archive of the wines they treasure.
Why have you called this wine preservation project Oenological Stratigraphy?
In geology, stratigraphy is the study of rock layers—how time, pressure, and climate are physically layered into the Earth.
Oenological Stratigraphy applies that exact scientific logic to wine. A vintage is not just liquid in a bottle; it is a physical layer of human effort, climatic history, and soil chemistry compressed into a single year. We physically layer those material fractions onto canvas to create a tangible visual record of time.
Photo credit: Radoslav Michalec Photography
Do you have any dream wine regions or appellations where you would like to work?
My vision is to build a definitive global registry of the world's most legendary terroirs. In Europe, beyond my active work in Bordeaux, my focus is expanding our chapters into the iconic rolling slopes of Tuscany, the prestigious parcels of Burgundy, and the chalk beds of Champagne. I am deeply drawn to the historic terroir of Veuve Clicquot and the extraordinary determination of Madame Clicquot.
Globally, I am fascinated by the high-altitude terroirs of South America; I am currently in dialogue with a Chilean wine producer and have a keen interest in exploring the unique red wine terroirs of Argentina.
What are your plans for the 2026 harvest?
As we enter the active harvest season of August 2026, our studio is holding open a strictly limited number of commission slots for our 'Inaugural 2026 Master Registry'.
Beyond formal commissions, I am particularly eager to open a warm, ongoing dialogue with seasoned collectors, patrons, oenologists, and estate owners. Fine wine collecting is built on personal memories, deep emotional connections to specific harvests, and rare regional insights. I invite collectors to reach out and share their perspectives on the international estates and unrepeatable vintages that have shaped their passion, whether that is a micro-parcel in the Priorat, a high-altitude vineyard in Mendoza, or a cherished family estate in Bordeaux.
For me, Oenological Stratigraphy is a collaborative archive of global viticultural heritage. Private collectors, advisory partners, and fine wine estates who wish to initiate a conversation, share insights, or reserve an upcoming vintage chapter are invited to contact our studio directly:
Photo credit: Daniela Simo
Finally, what do you love most about Oenological Stratigraphy?
The privilege of holding time in my hands and touching the quantum and metaphysical life within the wine. There is an indescribable reverence in observing the hidden energy that reveals itself during the winemaking process, something I am only beginning to fully comprehend, and capturing those fleeting moments in an immortal physical form that will speak for centuries is awe-inspiring.
Feature image: Daniela Simo
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