The cool new but also ancient trend in Italian Wine you haven’t heard about

#lavitasieme

Apr 16

Our #lavitasieme series is back!

This week we are highlighting a super cool new phenomenon, that you may not know about, taking the local wine making industry by storm.

Forever green in Tuscany, even in the frigid end of winter

When you finally take that tour of your chosen Tuscan Winery, you may be surprised to find giant terracotta pots filled with wine nestled in between the typical steel and oak barrels. On our last wine tasting jaunt through Chianti, we certainly were surprised to find them! These giant pots are called Amphora in Italy and they are actually an extremely old method of winemaking that is quickly making a huge comeback!

What is extremely old?

Just a cool 6,000 years or so.

Known by slightly different names throughout the world, this ancient form of winemaking can be found throughout the middle east and Europe dating back before the Etruscan times.

Our good friend Tara standing next to the Amphora for size!

That looks cool but what is the benefit?

Traditionally, oak barrels have been used for centuries because the natural material allows a lot of oxygen to permeate the wine and age it rapidly. (that’s a good thing!) Depending on the origin and age of the oak, the wood adds complex flavorful notes like cinnamon, smoke, vanilla and countless others to create a complex and rich wine.

Conversely, steel barrels are extremely pristine zero-oxygen environments where crisp, clean wines can flourish easily (think fruity white wines and rosé)

The Amphora terracotta vessels are the happy marriage of both! Because they are a natural material, and very porous, they allow a lot of oxygen to age the wine, however they do not add ANY additional flavoring. The end result is a beautifully aged wine that is extremely pure and fruit forward (a wine lover’s dream am I right?)

For my birthday a few months ago, I returned to one of my favorite wineries in the Tuscan countryside, Casa Emma. Typically known for their Chianti wines and Super Tuscan blends, they have added this winemaking process to their repertoire. Meet my new favorite *special occasion* dinner wine (red) Herenae 2018.

After my first sip at the tasting, I quickly snagged half a dozen bottles and shipped them back to the states. As this is a relatively new investment for most Italian wineries, you can usually only get the bottles direct from the cantina. I knew I had to send some stateside for others to try.

This wine is complex but light, fruity but aged. I know, it seems like an oxymoron… too good to be true. But you know what they say…

Don’t fix what isn’t broken! And clearly, 6000 years ago… they knew how to make some really really good wine.

If you would like to know more about the Amphora wine making process in these terracotta Amphora.. click here.

And if you would like to explore Casa Emma, click here

Their version of the Amphora Wine is the IGT Herenae 2018 and while it is pricey, it makes an amazing gift for that expert wine lover in your life. Plus, you are buying direct from a winery and supporting family-owned local production. In order to ship wine to the U.S. you need to order a full case (12 bottles), but the investment is well worth it, especially if you split it between friends and family! If you really want to splurge, snag a bottle or two of the Brunello di Montalcino from 2015. It’s the Ferrari of wines and, I promise… a truly special treat!

And as always, when you finally do plan that Tuscan adventure, make sure to message me if you need any connections or recommendations!

All the Creative vibes,

Cassandra Kane

Designer + Founder - Sieme