2' min read
2' min read
Aging wine as our ancestors did in antiquity and therefore in amphorae of terracotta, clay, earthenware, stoneware.
Materials also chosen in relation to their availability in the area where the grape variety is grown, for products that become an authentic expression of the territory. The trend is gaining ground to the point that last month, the zero edition of Amphora Revolution was held in the Mercatali Galleries of the Verona Exhibition Centre. This was the result of the innovative collaboration between Vinitaly and the Merano Wine Festival, which brought together 101 amphora wine producers from all over Italy for the first event dedicated to a method of oenology that is also used for ageing in immersion in sea water.
"The time spent in the container depends a lot on the product you want to obtain: it is generally longer for reds and less for whites. I have aligned the ageing in jars of my Merlots to that in barrels so as not to disrupt the winery's logistics,' says Michele Bean at the helm of Roi Clar in Manzano, in the province of Udine. "The event showcased a new trend in the world of wine, one that actually values the oldest and most sustainable way of storing and ageing," says Helmuth Koecher, patron of the Merano WineFestival. "In five years' time, the latter will represent an increasingly important niche.
According to supporters, the modern use of amphorae and jars allows for slow micro-oxygenation, naturally controlled temperatures and softening of acidity, without the need to resort to chemistry, thereby also enhancing the characteristics of the grapes harvested in different vintages. All characteristics to be told to wine lovers in order to make this technique known. "Consumers nowadays drink more with their brains than with their mouths. At a time characterised by climate change and a dispersion of consumption by young people, attracted by other drinks or new low-alcohol products, amphora wines can take us back to our origins, to ancient vines, while also spreading the culture. Young people can be the first target consumers to whom we can address with a new storytelling,' says Attilio Scienza, scientific director of the event, which will be repeated in the coming years.
