Wines Aged in Clay Amphoras Made From the Same Soil That the Grapes Were Grown in!
The Vinum Hadrianum winery is one of the few places where you can find wines made in terracotta pots that are exact replicas of those used by ancient Roman artisan winemakers 2000 years ago. And to take things one step further, there is ample archeological evidence to prove that Amphorae were used as far back as 6000-8000 years ago. These amphorae were once used extensively for winemaking and storage but fell out of favor during the Industrial Revolution.
The Vinum Hadrianum winery has revived this ancient winemaking method with stunning authenticity and is now producingsome of the most unique and flavorful wines imaginable. The pots are made from clay found only in Abruzzo and are uniquely to make pottery for an emperor.
The clay is mixed with water and formed into the shape of an amphora. It is then fired in a kiln at over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This process makes the amphorae watertight and gives them a reddish-brown color. The Amphorae are baked in the same caves that have been used for hundreds of years, and many of the potters are from a long line of master artisans uniquely qualified to make these revered vessels.
Once they are fully cured and deemed ready, the amphorae are filled with wine and sealed with handcrafted lids that renowned artisans have beautifully painted in a variety of classic Italian artistic styles. An airtight gasket ensures a perfect seal between the amphora and its lid.
This simple but important deviation from the original vessels does an excellent job of keeping out bacteria and preventing oxidation. The wine is left to age in the amphorae for several months or even years. This process gives the wine a unique flavor and aroma, unlike any other wine.
The Vinum Hadrianum winery currently produces nine different wines in terracotta amphorae, including 5 Drops of Amber white wines. Vinum Hadrianum is best known for its Montepulciano d'Abruzzo red wine, which California's renowned Tastry Laboratory recently rated as a truly exceptional red wine uniquely well-suited to the American and other New World markets.
The winery's president, Piero Pavone, thinks there’s plenty of star power yet to come in their wine family. He's convinced that the Drops of Amber wines will be a huge hit, based upon the mushrooming interest in "Orange Wines,” which he says take skin contact aging too far.
Pavone explains, "Our approach is to use just the right amount of skin contact to produce a white wine with flavor, character, and body similar to a red wine, without any of the astringency." He continues, "We're not trying to produce a white wine that tastes like red. We're trying to produce an elegant white wine that stands out like a fine silky red." The Vinum Hadrianum Drops of Amber wines include regional classics like, Trebbiano, Pecorino, and Montonico. If you're looking for a white wine with more character, Vinum Hadrianum's Drops of Amber wines are sure to please.