Rediscovering tradition – at Amphora Wine Day

Amphora Wine Day is the brainchild of the dynamic Portuguese winemaking couple, Pedro Ribeiro and Catarina Vieira from Rocim winery. They have been at the forefront of the resurgence in amphora winemaking in Portugal – and are determined that it should be showcased not only in restaurants and wine bars from London to São Paulo but at home in Alentejo where it all began… 

Earthy evolution 

Launched in 2018 with 20-plus producers, Amphora Wine Day has now grown into an inspiring annual festival featuring nearly 40 wineries from around the globe. On Saturday 15 November, clay-pot producers from Chile, France, Georgia, Italy and Spain gathered with their Portuguese colleagues at Rocim’s winery in Vidigueira to share their passion with trade, media and wine enthusiasts. 

From clay to glass 

Professionals attending the event enjoyed a decidedly modern twist to their tasting experience in the afternoon – one-on-one personalised “speed tastings” with an A-Z of amphora winemakers from Adega Belém (Portugal) Lisbon to VIK (Chile). 

Regardless of their provenance, the process of making wine in amphoras has remained similar for hundreds of years with the crushed grapes and stems put inside clay vessels, where spontaneous fermentation takes place. While the size of the amphora, whether it is lined and the firing temperature of the clay are just some of the many variables, amphora wines do share common characteristics.  

“Amphorae have these properties that really help wines develop in positive ways, without adding oak while keeping freshness,” commented UK wine writer Jamie Goode who spoke at a panel discussion entitled ‘From Clay to Glass: How to Promote Amphora Wine’, moderated by wine critic Nuno Oliveira Garcia. 

“I’ve been following the revival of this tradition for a few years now and what I’ve noticed is that people are learning more and more about these vessels and as a result the wines are a lot better and cleaner.” 

Amphora Wine Day 2025 – Exhibitors 

• Adega Belém, Portugal, Lisbon 

• Adega Borba, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Adega das Flores, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Adega Vidigueira, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Aldeia de Cima, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Amoreira da Torre, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Arvad, Portugal, Algarve 

• Barroca da Malhada, Portugal, Beira Interior 

• Bodegas Romero, Spain, La Mancha 

• Bojador, Portugal, Alentejo  

• Cantina del Malandrino, Italy, Campania 

• Casca Wines, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Castello Vicchiomaggio, Italy, Tuscany 

• Château Carsin, France, Bordeaux 

• Château Couronneau, France, Bordeaux 

• Château Petit Guillot, France, Bordeaux 

• Château de Piote, France, Bordeaux 

• Esporão, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Fita Preta, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Gvymarani, Georgia, Kakheti 

• Howard's Folly, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Mainova, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Malhadinha Nova, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Meskhishvil, Georgia, Kakheti 

• Morais Rocha Wines, Portugal, Alentejo  

• Natus Vini, Portugal, Algarve 

• Niepoort, Portugal, Douro  

• Ode Winery, Portugal, Alentejo  

• Quinta da Pedragosa, Portugal, Algarve 

• Quinta do Paraíso, Portugal, Algarve  

• Quinta do Paral, Portugal, Alentejo  

• Rocim, Portugal, Alentejo 

• Rotcho, Georgia, Kakheti 

• Scylla Wines, Portugal, Douro 

• Shilda Winery, Georgia, Kakheti 

• Tezi Winery, Georgia, Kartli 

• VIK, Chile, Cachapoal Valley 

• XXVI Talhas, Portugal, Alentejo