A peaceful invasion of Impruneta by 1000 wine tasters, critics and fans

Very positive numbers for the 2nd edition of “Terracotta and Wine 2016”, the International Convention on experiences of winemaking in amphora from all over the world held at Impruneta last weekend. The event ended Sunday, November 20 after two days of full immersion wine tasting and conferences. Over 400 people visited the first day, Saturday November 19 at Fornace Agresti for the opening of the event. The numbers doubled on the second day with a guided wine tasting session in the morning and free wine tasting at the exhibition stands.

A highly qualified audience of critics, wine tasters and many wine lovers tasted from over one hundred labels of wine aged in amphora present at the stands where 41 Italian and international producers, including a brewery, Birra del Borgo, presented their wine (and beer) made in terracotta jars. The event was organized by the Cultural Association “La terracotta e il vino” founded by Leonardo Parisi of Artenova, Impruneta.

Both the Italian and international wine producers, guests of the event, were very pleased to encounter a very competent and knowledgeable public.

Oenologist Francesco Bartoletti, moderator of the guided wine tasting on Saturday said: “We Italians are great wine producers and in terms of quantity we represent a very wide panorama with respect to Georgia and Portugal but now here in Italy for many years, many producers are beginning to make wines in amphora with very long maceration times. Portugal and Georgia have continued this practice throughout their entire history, and now we’re re-discovering their history as well as our own. ”

“This initiative, launched just two years ago, almost for a bet – continues Sergio Bettini, chief coordinator of the event – today has been able to grow into a reference point at international level. At a time when artisans and in particular the excellencies of Tuscan craftsmanship, have been feeling for years the weight of a market downturn, this biennial event, organized by an association founded by a small production company, is an example of how research, experimentation and the ability to innovate can be an effective response”.