An old, worn stone staircase leads up from the wine cellar, illuminated by a soft glow falling in through the exit. The warm orange tones of the walls reflect the soul of this space-a place steeped in time, tradition and the craft of winemaking. Each step carries the memories of the winemaker, who walked up and down here countless times with his precious bottles, carefully working on his masterpieces.
The contrast between the darkness of the cellar and the light at the end of the stairs evokes an almost symbolic feeling. Just as wine ripens in the dark to eventually reach full daylight, this staircase seems like a gateway to something greater, a promise of refinement and satisfaction.
As I took this picture, Led Zeppelin's legendary Stairway to Heaven sounded in my head-the perfect melody for this scene, in which craftsmanship and time merge in a play of light and shadow.
Arnold van West - Visual Storyteller in Hospitality
After my hotel school education, my career began as a food manager on cruise ships in the Caribbean. The international cuisine, vibrant atmosphere and visual splendour of the hospitality world always attracted me. Back in the Netherlands, I decided to..
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