Amphora Day 2024 showcased Portugal’s rich tradition of clay-pot winemaking at Rocim’s picturesque winery in Alentejo. This event has become an essential part of the international wine calendar, attracting enthusiasts eager to experience the unique qualities of talha wines.
With 2024 proving to be a remarkable vintage due to a cooler growing season and ample rainfall, the talha wines demonstrated elevated acidity, lower alcohol levels, and greater complexity. Attendees had the chance to sample newly tapped wines alongside older vintages, gaining insight into how these wines develop over time.
Rocim attracted a crowd of 1,000 visitors, eagerly tasting various talha wines produced from local grapes, such as Aragones, Trincadeira, and Tinta Grossa. Noteworthy wines included the Adega Vidigueira 1656 Tinto 2024, which boasts spicy fruit notes, and the Vidigueira Centenaria Branco 2024, offering complexity and a long finish with excellent acidity.
Other highlights included Canena Vinhas Velhas Tinto 2024, which delivered a refreshing blackberry flavor, and wines from Vila Alva, like the XXVI Talhas Talha XV 2022, notable for its extended finish and spice characteristics. Further, the retired winemaker David Baverstock impressed with his Howards Folly Tres Anforas Tinto 2021, noted for its rich cherry flavor and velvety mouthfeel.
International producers also left their mark. Tres Sabores Winery from Napa Valley showcased their St Laurent wines that merge herbal and fruity notes, while Stellenbosch’s Kleine Zalze presented a Chenin Blanc aged in amphora, maintaining a delicate balance of honey and lemon flavors.
As Amphora Day continues to grow, there are signs of increasing "talha" tourism, with more villages expanding on the talha experience beyond the event itself. This evolution highlights a vibrant winemaking tradition that continues to draw interest both locally and internationally.