Gravner New Solutions Announcement
In Part 2 of my previous three-part article about Joško Gravner, published over the summer of 2024, I mentioned that Gravner was experimenting with new maturation technologies to complement his use of Qvevri amphorae. However, a promise was not to reveal these commercially sensitive details until Gravner’s formal announcement.
Hence, today’s press release officially heralds these exciting new developments. This is reproduced below with slight edits, under the title WINE DOES NOT ONLY LIVE IN QVEVRI: GRAVNER NEW SOLUTIONS FOR WINE MATURATION.
Gravner-Dedno
Starts
Gravner New Solutions. Glass and glass-lining tanks enter the Joško Gravner cellar in Oslavia. The first tank is already located; the others will arrive by the beginning of 2025.
Joško Gravner is one of the masters of Italian winemaking, considered by many as the father of amber/orange wine. He has always been an indomitable innovator, searching for the suitable vat to give birth to his wines. Supported by his nephew Gregor Pietro, Gravner recently explored new frontiers for wine maturation, analysing the use of glass for its inertia, resistance, and ease of cleaning. EnoKube and Pfaudler Italia are the two companies that have created new containers intended to support the use of Georgian qvevri. These will be integrated into the wine production process during 2024 – 2025.
EnoKube
The collaboration with EnoKube started with Joško Gravner’s idea. It’s an entirely Italian project realised by Enrico Cusinato alongside the master glazier Vittorio Benvenuto. This project created an innovative glass tank. Trialled last spring, this small tank allowed testing new ways of ageing small batches or selections, leaving room for experimentation. Thanks to the precision and properties of glass, EnoKube has proven to be a valuable ally for the qualitative maturation of small quantities of wine.
Pfaudler Italia
However, handling larger volumes revealed limitations in supporting the heavier weight of more significant wine volumes. Hence, it was then that, on a local engineer’s suggestion, the Gravner family also came into contact with Pfaudler Italia, a company specialised in the construction of glass-lined equipment for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. It’s part of the GMM Pfaudler group. Together, they developed larger glass-lined tanks with a maximum capacity of 70 hectoliters, whose design combines steel’s robustness with glass’s chemical resistance.
Following the careful design and initial construction, the steel tanks undergo the manual process of internal glass lining. This involves a first base layer and then a subsequent covering. Then, each glass coating is followed by a heat treatment at 900°C that permanently fuses the steel and glass into a composite material.
The glass coating ensures a smooth, porosity-free surface. Furthermore, this super-hygienic treatment is inert, making it ideal for wine storage and ageing. In addition to the long service life, vitrified tanks are fully recyclable, thus promoting environmental impact and improving sustainability.
Mateja Gravner
Mateja Gravner said, “The constant research for innovation is never an end in itself, but it comes from the desire to improve every aspect of the production process, remaining faithful to our roots. With EnoKube, we have found a perfect solution for small production of high-quality wine, where every detail makes a difference. Pfaudler, on the other hand, allowed us to face the challenge of refining normal production volumes without compromising the quality of the wine. Both solutions are fundamental because they represent two sides of the same coin: the search for perfection in wine, regardless of quantity. Each vat has a specific and valuable role in our process, and together, they allow us to continue doing what we love”.
Mauro Bona
Mauro Bona, Regional Sales Manager of Pfaudler Italia LLC, said, “The collaboration between the GMM Pfaudler Group and Gravner represents a significant step for both companies, leaders in their respective sectors. An encounter between industrial research and nature opens new opportunities, markets and solutions for both brands. This way, Gravner can integrate cutting-edge technologies into its historic wine production. At the same time, GMM Pfaudler has the opportunity to demonstrate the adaptability of its technologies in a growing sector and to contribute to the evolution of an established leader like Gravner”.
End of Press release, September 20th, 2024.
And Finally
These Gravner New Solutions were worth waiting for. Exciting times are ahead. I look forward to trying the resulting wines in six years. I’m intrigued as to how these changes manifest in the glass!
You can read my entire article on Gravner here: