The superhero in question are the terracotta wine jars created by Tava, a Trentino-based company that studies clays and their interaction with wine to create amphorae tailored to the producer.
A modern superhero who goes by the name of Tava, the terracotta wine jar manufacturing company in Mori (TN), lower Trentino, which exports worldwide. Major customer? France, which absorbs 50 percent of production, followed by Italy with 25 percent and the remaining percentage distributed worldwide. If the earthenware wine jars now have no secrets or almost no secrets for Tava, it is also true that curiosity and improvement never end; and it is when they go hand in hand that innovations appear. Present at Simei 2024 in Milan with its own booth, it shared during the days of the fair opinions, wine tastings but above all a vision of amphorae
as containers that, in my opinion, not only have no twins but no distant relatives either. Francesco Tava’s vision of how and what the “superhero” wine amphora should be is very clear. Francesco not only draws on his family’s experience in the production of ceramic stoves, the characteristic kakelofen, but more importantly he boasts of the studies conducted from the very beginning, this is 2012, on clays for the production of wine vessels. Aware that a material in contact with a food product must first and foremost be safe, Francis relied on the work of the research and development center Giotto Wine Listeners
(based in Follina, TV) and the University of Padua to study the effects of amphorae on wines. Thus, in addition to certifying their wholesomeness, it was then outlined. a profile in terms of micro-oxygenation of the wine thus going on to define the “perfect recipe” for the creation of these containers with ancient charm but such modern functionality.
The container depends on the design of the wine
It was actually Federico Giotto, winemaker and founder of the Wine Listeners, a group of consultants and researchers in the fields of wine and viticulture, who kindled my curiosity by explaining to me that his approach states that the choice of a wine container should be made according to the wine’s design same. Project outlined and profiled from the vineyard.
Knowing grapes and wines is as essential as knowing the materials in which they are to be fermented, matured and rested, as well as the functionalities of the same. Speaking of amphora defines it as a “sweet” container, in contrast to the turbulent character of a steel for example, although we all agree it is also an inert and taste-neutral material with quite a few advantages. But then why when we think of amphorae we think of wines with a macerative and oxidative character, at times imperfect if you will, and, without wishing to lump them all together but staying on the humoral, even a bit tormented? “You must know Francis“, this was Frederick’s answer.
And so it was.
The meeting with Francesco Tava
Having spoken to us, telling you just who Francesco Tava is and what an amphora is, however, I find it reductive. In fact, I will tell you about Monolith, news of 2025. Alla voce monolito Treccani dice: large architectural or sculptural work carved from a single block of stone or marble. Or: large block of stone.
Tava’s Monolith is new 2024, available from January 2025. New shape, new volume, new material. Tava investigates until it finds the solution to make a wine vessel of the future taking all that is best from the world of clays and all that the world of steels teaches.
All a matter of dough (and raw material)
Raw material is what everything begins with.
Amphorae and Monoliths do not have the same mixture. Tava Amphorae are made from Tava Clays (registered trademark), a mixture of 8 clays of different origins and compositions. The Italian ones are the brownest, four come from the Alps and two from England. The latter ones rich in kaolin are essential for the hardness and strength of the final result.
Different music when it comes to Monoliths, stoneware clays, six in total. Cosa cambia? Tutto verrebbe da dire, in primis la materia prima di partenza per finire con la robustezza del risultato finale. Monolite è quindi grès e non argilla, Powerful and neat material that itself has no porosity. Cinque argille da grès vengono infatti mescolate a una argilla da anfora che conferisce quel tocco di porosità in più che serve a rendere Monolite unico nel suo genere. Resistente agli urti e plastico il giusto per potersi presentare in volumi doppi rispetto alle anfore. Oltre ai soliti 12,5 e 25 hl, Monolite sarà realizzato anche nel formato di 50 hl. Vantaggi non indifferenti dunque; nella sua forma meno suadente ma pur sempre armonica Monolite può inoltre essere much more accessorized than an amphora getting closer and closer to the functions and advantages of a steel tank.
All a matter of temperature
We should actually be talking about thermal gradient. Cioè quanto tempo si impiega a raggiunge una determinata temperatura e per quanto tempo viene tenuta al fine di fondere determinati elementi e cambiarne chimica e fisica per sempre. Così facendo Tava cambia le caratteristiche di porosità dell’oggetto e “pettina” le varie componenti dell’argilla che fino a quel momento erano state arruffate tra loro incamerando aria e favorendo una porosità alta, sgraziata e fuori controllo, del risultato finale. Il range di temperatura, che per Tava raggiunge un massimo di 1200°C, è solo uno degli elementi.
An artisan soul from industrial accouterments
Temperatures are combined with the importance of weather. Tava products are handcrafted in production. All handmade in a dynamic, bright and relaxed working environment. They see the light between 6 and 8 months for the amphoras, and 8-10 months for the Monoliths, respectively. Everything, however indelibly traced. Ogni processo, a partire dalla scelta della materia prima, è tracciato e tacciabile così da fornire un’ulteriore garanzia all’utente che decide di rifornirsi di questi prodotti dal fascino antico, ma dalla funzionalità così moderna.
To consecrate the international character of this made-in-Italy company, and the collaboration with Giotto Wine Listeners not only in research but also in production at the winery I propose to you two foreign tastings of a particular project of the Purcari winery. Leader nella produzione di vini moldavi da vitigni autoctoni e internazionali.
Academia is an out-of-the-box project by Château Purcari that sees protagonists the indigenous grapes as well as the use of amphorae starting with fermentation. Fruit of research and studies to enhance the talent of each territory and each grape variety, in order to tell an authentic story in which first and foremost the producer himself can see himself. The result is at times extreme and divisive, certainly unique and memorable.
Academia Viorica de Purcari 2020 Château Purcari
95/100 – € 50,00
100% Viorica. Amphora vinification with maceration, then rest in wood. Golden yellow, with balsamic notes of pure licorice and fresh mint. Macerated notes of yellow fruit. Pleasantly astringent on the palate, alternating tannic notes with fresh, savory ones. Very persistent, leaving memories of green tea.
Academia Saperavi de Purcari 2020 Château Purcari
91/100 – € 50,00
100% Saperavi. It ferments in amphora and then rests in wood. Impenetrable red. Nose with roasted coffee notes, very concentrated dark fruit. Wilder notes on the palate, bramble berries, dried tobacco. The taste is dry, pleasantly balanced and persistent.