This story is especially intriguing for any winemaker interested in trying a clay vessel for winemaking purposes.
I experienced a winemaking family affair evolving, which defines a winemaker’s birthright. It is totally open to Talha’s historical advancements today, which dates back to ancient-looking Vila Alva. I realized this at Talhas XXVI, where I quickly learned this is pretty much an all Portuguese small “vila” heritage.
It’s evident that this ancient culture is rooted in a sense of community and tradition, as a true labor of love. It’s also a testament to amphora’s rich history. The winery was founded by a group of childhood friends wanting to preserve and promote the traditional Talha winemaking technique. It’s truly inspiring, speaking to a strong sense of community and connection to land that exists in this small village.
Talha XXVI, in Vila Alva, a typical village located in the heart of the Alentejo. The lessons of life are coming from a shared passion.
Alentejo Replicating Wine History
Alentejo, Portugal, in the region of Vidigueira, is famous as a wine-producing center started in the fifteenth century AD. I got to witness its rich winemaking history and culture firsthand. It was such a poignant experience. The small town evokes a guttural reaction, historically speaking, with classic, then and now history. I always become very quiet during media visits. It’s not about selfies, which feels customary for so many.
Love Between Father And Child Evolved
I’m reminded of junior high school, when I loved looking through National Geographic magazines for images to take me somewhere else, as I skimmed through other people’s worldly experiences. So, being “there,” becomes an adventure in culture, and this experience above fascinated me.
I first noticed this child, lost in a sea of adults and was not lost. He was so comfortable and curious, doing something I had no idea what he was doing. I became transfixed. He had a spigot and was turning it, with a glass to catch the liquid. This was not his first rodeo, although it was mine. What was he doing so proficiently?
He captured a sample of wine inside this Talha, while his father was watching and handed it to his father. His father came down to his level and explained exactly what he had in this glass. Family history was evolving before my very eyes.
Imagine a town that has its own rotisserie spit at the ready… Vila Alva has one. Department of Culture.
Small Town Support
It’s so special when most of a town comes to celebrate a food and wine event, with all generations included. I’ve learned over time that many Americans don’t want kids anywhere around when they’re enjoying food and wine. Is it any surprise that so many kids overdose? Just imagine the fun they’d still be having with no TVs, iPads, and very few cellular phone being used. Townspeople were present and engaged in curiosity, tasting, pairing food and wine. I so miss many cultural events from my childhood.
When I gave a tour at Robert Mondavi Winery, I had one tour where four sets of parents, each set showed up with one son, who were all about 10-12 years old. I handled it like the inclusive educator that I’ve always been. My story, if you want to know the best tasting ever, for every single person on that tour, all 35 of them, from eight to 58, is the following link – Tales of a Winery Tour Guide ~ Rumble, Tumble, Fumble, and Bumble. We need people who are creative and willing to be inclusive, I don’t care how exclusive a winery is. I was putting myself into my own NatGeo story. I’d do well in Portugal, because of its continuing inclusive customs.
Wines of the day, help yourself.
Best Talha Resource
I have to thank Paul James White, along with others, for my 8-day talha education, as a result of my Alentejo visit. Paul White was a complete stranger, when he a wife Jenny Mortimer seamlessly slipped into our dinner time group. I thought it was curious and wondered who they were, of course. A paradigm shift began to evolve answers over dinner. They were just publishing a book and sent a copy to me, which I’ve since devoured, since.
It took very little time, while reading the book, to realize I was be taught by one of the world’s leading researchers of amphorae. Their published book is entitled Talha Tales, Portugal’s Ancient Answers to Amphora Wines. It’s very easy to find with a quick Google Search.
Paul White left no Talha pot unturned in his book Paul White’s Talha Tales, and yet he continues his research, which also includes other Eastern European countries and their vessels.
Talha Tales book, by Paul James White
Chapter 28 in Book ~ Called “XXVI Talhas”
This chapter focuses on basic XXVI Talha’s facts, which clarifies even more understanding of who they are and how they’ve developed passion over time? The owners of this endeavor are below in the photo (left to right): Daniel Parreira, (sister) Alda and (husband) Samuel Pernicha, and Ricardo Santos. Missing in this photo is Genoveva Santos.
Paul White: “My first visit to XXVI Talhas was a revelation. It was like unlocking the door to a winery that has been frozen in time for the last half-century. Now, there is reason for business once again, seemingly without having skipped a beat.”
History Is being made In Alva, and Daniel Parreira is a key historical character, as Chapter XXVI opens. He’s an avô paterno (paternal grand farther) to both Daniel Parreira and sister Alda. Their childhood was, and still is, in quaint Vila Alva. It’s a tiny town, still in the past, yet feeling “the now,” in activities. As a result of their neighborhood, the children have grown together with a singular curiosity. The crux of this group’s story is today they’re the adults with Daniel Parreira’s son very intrigued. If you reference my opening collage, you’ll see father and son.
Talha XXVI Colleagues
Resurrecting And Using XXVI
I’m fascinated by this story and created an image progression of the child tapping the bottom of a talha, into a clay basin. Then he scooped a sample and poured it into a waiting wine glass. This protégé stands and looks deeply into the wine, just like daddy does. He sees the cloudy juice just captured and hands the glass to his patient father. The paterno takes time to sit and explain the magic that’s happening to the grape juice. They are continuing a way of life, by creating and connecting characters to their history and community.
And the beat goes on…
History Continues Being Made
Daniel Parreira is the pivotal character, as Chapter XXVI opens. He’s an avô paterno (paternal grand farther) to both Daniel Parreira and sister Alda. Their childhood was, and still is, in quaint Vila Alva. It’s a tiny town, still in the past, yet feeling the “now” in activities. As a result the neighborhood has children growing together with a singular curiosity. The crux of this story is that today, one of those “children” became a man, and now has his maybe 7-year old son coming along.
I’m fascinated by this story and created an image progression of the child tapping the bottom of a talha, into a clay basin. Then the child scooped a sample and poured it into a waiting wine glass. This protégé stands and looks deeply into the wine glass, just like daddy does. He sees the cloudy juice just captured and hands the glass to his patient father. Paterno takes the time to sit and explain the magic that’s happening to the grape juice. They are continuing a way of life, by creating and connecting characters to their history and community.
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Written by Jo Diaz, edited by Jose Diaz, owners of Diaz Communications, helping to make stars realize their dreams. To reprint, please contact Jo Diaz.
Great article Jo. Where many Americans don’t really get the essence of Slow Food/Slow Wine, you’ve driven straight to the heart of Terra Madre here. One thing I’d suggest is understated is that Vidigueira’s winemaking probably goes back at least another 1500 years, and probably another 2500 via Phoenicians and Tartessians before the Romans. Just over the hill is the largest ruined Roman villa an hours walk away. And I recall there was also a Roman villa uncovered in middle of Vidiguera or Vila da Frades close by. Intriguingly, my local village of Bram in Languedoc near Carcassonne, has Roman era Portuguese amphora transported wine up from there 2000 years ago. So it was pretty good, internationally recognized stuff back then.
Thanks, Paul, for adding to the ancient history of Talhas to my knowledge and understanding. You, more than anyone else I know, have researched much deeper than most writers, with a lot more passion and interviews, than I will ever possess… But wish I could. I’m in a process of now planning a trip for this year. Very exciting!
I just completed a huge projected I’ve been working on for years, as we finally hit the intended goal of giving away 450 Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs), in the US wine industry. It’s given space to me for now adopt another big project.
I was speaking with a friend/neighbor about Alentejo and Talhas last weekend. She said, and meant it, plan a trip, cost it out, we’ll buy into it, including you accompany us, and we’ll all go. She went on, “included yourself in the price, give it to you to be our guide, and we’ll all go. This is a very tight-knit group of San Francisco business professionals, and she’ll encourage everyone to go. All I have to do it cost it all out, then manage all details as it’s happening. (It will be like, when I was a Girl Scout Day Camp director, growing it from 40 the first year, 87 the second year, and 250 people the third year. It should much easier by comparison.
So, it looks it’s going to happen this year. I’ll keep you and Tiago in our loop as it develops. I need to set up an appointment with him, because he needs to also be in the loop. While I’m the only writer in the group, the rest have powerful influence in CA, and would no doubt become major Alentejo fans. There are two winemakers in this group, so I have to consider their schedules, too. One of them in the consulting winemaker for over 40 brands, so harvest season is the only trip-up for them, but maybe a fall and then spring?
Lots to consider, as I also finish off “There’s More to Alentejo than their amphorae.”
Cheers, Jo
How cool for you and fun for you. Wish I had friends like that! Let me know if I can help advise on anything. So glad you’ll get back. You’ve kept the faith more than any other US writer and deserve a return.
BTW, I was digging into your blog page and found out you’d written a review of to cork or not to cork, way back when. I was a major part of that book fighting back fake-science and highly organized industrialists against the odds. George Tabor told me he’d originally intended to explore the revolutionary screw cap movement, but totally changed directions when he read some of my science based journalism. He sent me a copy of the book with a very kind dedication. I’ll send you some interesting stuff.