Taste Timeless Wines at Amphora Wine Festival

Cape Town’s true enthusiasts are invited to taste a whole new kind of wine at Amphora Wine Festival. Hosted by Wine Machinery Group, the winery equipment supplier who has been servicing Cape Town’s makers for over 30 years, and held at the storied Lourensford Wine Estate, the weekend event brings together tasters and producers for a celebration of unique craftmanship.

Here’s everything amateur sommeliers need to know.

What is Amphora wine?

Introduced as early as the late Stone Age, amphorae is a type of transport jar, usually made of terracotta, which was used to deliver liquid and dry products across vast distances. Often, they were used for olive oil and wine, acting as a space within which wines could be fermented and stored for long periods of time.

Unlike traditional wooden barrels, amphora is seen as neutral, meaning the wine is relatively untouched by oaky flavours or tannins. As such, drinks from these jars is seen as more “pure”, especially by those interested in the art of natural winemaking. Where wooden storage can give off a hint of vanilla and steel has little to no impact on the flavour of wine, amphora gives wine a more noticeable texture and a slightly fruity opening.

The practice of producing wine in amphorae started in Georgia thousands of years ago, but has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years as older techniques have come into fashion.

More about the festival

Some of South Africa’s beloved vintners and producers are coming together to celebrate this ancient technique, with a day full of talks, tastings, and tradition. Of the many celebrated winemakers coming to the festival, DeMorgenzon, Allee Bleue, Jordan, Constantia Glen, Nederburg, Kleine Zalze, and Haute Cabrière are among the leading labels in the Cape.

The morning starts at 10.30am with a talk by Pedro Ribeiro of the Rocim Wine Estate, the founder of Portugal’s Amphora Wine Festival, who discusses his journey in establishing the world’s first event exclusively focused on clay pot winemaking. Thereafter, a curated selection of the day’s most prestigious and experienced winemakers take to the stage to discuss their insights into the traditional technique.

The next international guest, Federico Manetti, is a Tuscan vintner who oversees the organic Fontodi winery in the heart of Chianti country. His discussion, held from 12pm, focuses on the importance of creating and sustaining high quality clay to ensure great wine. Finally, the afternoon rounds off with another panel discussion, this time on the selling and buying of amphora wines, the growing consumer culture, and opportunities for future growth.

Get tickets to the event

Guests are encouraged to move freely between talks and tastings, with each featured winery selling bottles to take home on the day. Food and beverage trucks are also available, making it a multi-faceted event for Cape Town’s vino culture to meet and connect over a tradition that has stood the test of time.

Cost: R450 per person. Book now on Webtickets.