James is a fan of amphoras for winemaking and uses them for some of his small-production pinot noir in Martinborough, New Zealand. The artisanal producer he relies on is Artenova, a small manufacturer in Impruneta, in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany. Owned by brothers Leonardo and Andrea Parisi, Artenova produces about 240 terracotta amphoras per year. Leonardo manages business operations, while Andrea, the master potter, handcrafts each amphora – each unique in shape and composition. The terracotta clay is sourced from a nearby quarry. James believes Artenova amphoras impart a special purity and softness to red wines. Senior Editor Jacobo García Andrade shot this video during our recent visit to their workshop.
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