Technique

Before I head into this week's journey, I would like to thank all those that have been reading my blog. I met someone on the weekend that complimented me on my blog and said that my blog is an interesting point of view, in his words "from the grapes point of view". I thought that was awesome, so thank you.

There are so many techniques used in wine making but the one that caught my attention this week is being used by a wine maker in California and here in Australia. We'll go a little into the history and what this producer is doing to replicate the technique.

The technique is using Clay Amphora and amphora is a specific type of vase (pictured left) with two handles and as the name would have it it is made out of clay.

In ancient times the Greeks mainly used amphora, as a means of storage (usually buried), and to transport wine, grapes, olives, olive oil among many others but it was also used it as a canvas. The greeks would paint designs on them for particular ceremonies and social events for example, funerals, weddings and as prizes.

This history goes back to acient Greece and Rome and now in the 21st century we are seeing a resurgence of this wine making technique.

Del Dotto Vineyards  (a place I would love to visit) are using terracotta amphora  to produce their wine. The size of these amphora is impressive, measuring in at four-feet high, six-feet in diameter and hold around 2 tonnes. Then comes in the cost, which is $5,000 - $15,000 for each amphora. (Del Dotto actually made clay bottles to then sell to the public). The Australian producer who used to work for Foster's Wine Estates now has his own vineyard Ducks in a Row and produces Pandora's Amphora. Which is a drop I wouldn't mind getting my hands on!

The advantage of this technique is that the wine maker is using minimal sulphur so the wine does not oxidise making the wine more natural. So for all you allergy sufferers that love your wine, give this one a go. I feel as though I need to put in some kind of health warning - 'I take no responsibility for what happens' or 'drink at own risk', you get the picture.

Peace

More than just sight, smell and taste

There is so much more to wine that just what you see, smell and drink. There is also the processes that a grape goes through to make wine. If a grape had feelings it would be in so much pain :). From what the winemaker has decided to do with the grapes to how the wine is produced, which grapes are selected and which grapes the winemaker decides to blend. On top of all of this, you get the sensations that wine gives you; you can be in deep thought, almost to the point of meditating, long into the night with all the conversations you have had with the people around you. A night filled with laughter, sadness, memorable moments, a celebration or just a meal with close friends or loved one.

This is why, personally, there is truth in "Wine...the intellectual part of the meal" (Alexandre Dumas - 1873). What an absolutely awesome quote! We can talk so much more about this delectable drink that must be the oldest drink only second to water. The history of wine is such a fascinating one, from the Greeks and Romans, especially the Romans. The Romans conquered the majority of what we now call Europe and everywhere they went they would plant grape vines but what the Romans also did was to develop wine making processes that are still currently in use.

Wine history is such an interesting and exciting part of wine, which is why I will make Inventing Wine by Paul Lukacs my next book and other blogs as part of my reading .

Peace