The new Clayver model of ceramic wine cask, unveiled at Viteff, boasts a large capacity
The use of ceramics as an alternative to wood, steel and concrete in wine ageing, it has now become established and is spreading rapidly in virtually all wine-producing countries. As with wood, the use of small to medium-sized vessels remains the ideal solution for managing individual crus and for premium wines. It is, however, undeniable that demand for vessels of justifies the need for large-scale facilities: consider, for example, the fermentation or storage of large quantities of wine.
The production of very large ceramic containers (>1000 l) is highly complex if one wishes to move beyond the realm of artisanal craftsmanship; it is costly and also poses serious safety risks for winery staff. In fact, in the event of a violent impact, ceramic materials fracture in a so-called brittle manner and can strike anyone standing nearby with the force of the tonnes of wine they contain. This therefore raises the issue of protection using special grids or frames, or of a different design.
Clayver has opted for the latter approach, developing and patenting modular ceramic-steel-concrete systems that combine the best properties of all these materials and enable the construction of very large-capacity containers, whilst ensuring the highest standards of hygiene, safety and practicality.
This new range will be officially unveiled at the upcoming Viteff in Épernay (15–18 October) to gather feedback and suggestions, particularly regarding the most popular sizes, before moving from prototypes to the final products. As always, Clayver is not standing still: it is evolving and is committed to promoting and raising awareness of the use of ceramics in winemaking.
