Sometimes it doesn’t take much to reveal a great starting point – but sometimes a complete redesign is needed. The restaurant Stiva Veglia, situated in a historic building in Schnaus and nestled within the Romansh cultural landscape of Graubünden, is one of those establishments where hospitality and wine culture have always gone hand in hand. The beautiful vaulted cellar was already a testament to this – and was set to become so even more.
Xi Wine Systems and Stiva Veglia are no strangers to one another: an Xi Rack wine storage unit was already in use at the front of the cellar, demonstrating on a daily basis what a well-designed wine display can achieve. In 2025, Cornelia and Tino Zimmermann got in touch again – with a specific request and a considerable challenge. The opposite cellar wall was to be mirrored, and the existing third-party system – consisting of simple wooden crates – was to be replaced. Wine crates were scattered everywhere, loose bottles were piled up in crates, and the passageway was blocked. A vaulted cellar with enormous potential – and a wine list that had grown over the years. As the list grew, so did the space requirements, and with them the desire for a solution that would truly do justice to the establishment’s standards.
Following an on-site visit, the team at Xi Wine Systems worked with Cornelia and Tino Zimmermann to develop a concept that went far beyond the original idea of a simple mirror display. The entire vaulted cellar was reimagined: a combination of the Xi Rack, designed for high storage and capacity requirements, and Xi Presenter display shelves now creates a spatial arrangement in which every bottle has its place – visible, accessible and beautifully showcased. Xi Presenter highlights selected wines in a special way, turning the act of browsing the wine list into an experience for guests.
The holistic approach also extended to the entrance hall. Three Xi Cool Optimus wine climate cabinets were installed, complemented by additional Xi Rack wine racks. This now allows the wines on the entire wine list to be displayed in an organised manner – and over 400 bottles of white wine, champagne and sparkling wines are kept chilled and ready to serve at all times. A separate temporary storage area is therefore no longer required. Everything served at Stiva Veglia has its designated place: from the cellar to the glass.
The result is impressive in every respect – not only from a logistical point of view, but also as a guest experience. Anyone starting an evening at the Stiva Veglia often begins it down there these days: with an aperitif in the vaulted cellar, surrounded by wine, stone and a wonderful atmosphere. The feedback from guests speaks for itself.
